Five teenagers died in a fire at a residential building near Barcelona, Spain, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, authorities in the Catalonia region reported. The incident highlights the dangers of recreational drug use among young people and has prompted a police investigation.
According to the Catalan Fire Service, the blaze began Monday night, February 16, 2026, in a storage area of a five-story building in the town of Manlleu, approximately 80 kilometers north of Barcelona.
“For reasons unknown, the people inside were unable to exit,” the fire service said in a statement, “and nothing could be done to save their lives” despite the efforts of emergency responders.
Catalan police informed the AFP news agency that the victims ranged in age from 14 to 18 years old, but provided no further details. The tragedy has deeply affected the local community.
Manlleu Mayor Arnau Rovira told reporters that four police officers were similarly treated for smoke inhalation, describing February 16th as “the darkest day” he could remember.
Radio Cadena SER reported speaking with witnesses and acquaintances of the victims, who said the group had gathered on the building’s top floor to inhale nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” a sedative.
Cadena SER reported that several other teenagers survived the fire, though this information has not been officially confirmed by authorities.
The radio station reported that the fire was triggered by a gas leak and subsequent explosion when one of the survivors lit a lighter in the enclosed space.
Police have isolated the building, and a journalist from AFP reported no visible damage to the building’s exterior.
The Manlleu town hall has declared three days of mourning, and police have launched a full investigation into the incident.
