Survivors in Murcia recount terror after nightclub fire
Civil proceedings moved forward this Tuesday morning as five survivors who had been cited to testify before the examining magistrate investigating the deadly fire at the Atalayas nightclub circuit attended. In the end, four appeared, though one testimony was postponed. Before the judge, they spoke of the terrifying moments they lived through in the early hours, while they were in the Fonda area. All four were there as witnesses and to be offered actions within the judicial process. Outside the City of Justice in Murcia, reporters waited as they left the building and spoke briefly to the media.
Edwin Efrain Montiel, the survivors’ spokesperson, explained that they were familiar with the venue and the surrounding area, which helped them escape. He said it was purely instinctive and intuitive that pushed them to flee Fonda, noting that there had been no warning given about a fire and no evacuation signal to alert them beforehand.
When they stepped outside, there was no one waiting to assist or guide them. The group—consisting of Montiel, his wife, and friends—described how their instinct to exit enabled their survival. They are currently undergoing psychological treatment to cope with the trauma, as Ambar Etefanía, another survivor, described it as a very hard ordeal for everyone involved.
Rosa Egea, the attorney representing the five survivors summoned this Tuesday, stated that the group confirmed they left the premises because they knew the local establishments well. There was no indication of an optimal evacuation plan. Egea chose not to comment further at this time.
The testimonies came after the head magistrate of Murcia’s Instruction Court No. 3 had heard statements from all those investigated so far. The latest witness was the manager of Fonda who appeared last week, followed by three responsible parties from Teatre, including the DJ who organized the party and the owner of the machine responsible for the cold fire, which police conclusions identified as the cause of the fatal blaze.
Pedro López Graña, who represents a group of victims, noted that the survivors’ statements highlight a lack of adequate safety, pointing out the absence of alarms and proper signage. He also indicated that some statements from the nightclub managers contradicted what the witnesses have told the court. According to the lawyer, some testimonies were deeply distressing to hear.
The lawyer added that the most striking aspect was the profound emotional impact and the fear they describe during the moment of real danger. Survivors still recall being engulfed in dense, acrid smoke and almost unable to move. They described how the scent of smoke filled the air as they made their escape, and how the wall adjacent to Fonda suddenly gave way, revealing the flames for the first time.
The proceedings are set to continue on Friday, March 1, when seven more people are summoned. Like the Tuesday witnesses, they are clients of the implicated venues and will be heard and offered formal participation in the judicial process. The courtroom line remains clear: more testimonies are expected as the investigation proceeds.