Mother, 3 children die in building fire in Spain

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA) - Three children and their mother died from smoke inhalation after a fire broke out in a central building in the city of Vigo in northern Spain on Wednesday, local media reported.

Galicia emergency services say 15 people were injured and three are in serious condition, including one minor.

Local daily Faro de Vigo reported that the victims were a 30-year-old woman and her three children, age 11-14.

The daily reported that the victims lived on the fourth floor and were found dead on the staircase, apparently trying to flee the flames that started early Wednesday.

Police sources told Faro de Vigo that they are investigating the fire to determine whether it was set intentionally.

Residents of the building, who managed to escape the fire and smoke, speculate that the fire was intentional, started by someone who had previously lived in an occupied apartment in the building and who had threatened others, according to Faro de Vigo.

According to Maria Xose Caride, the local urbanism chief, the building had recently been sold to a company, which had asked a court for help to get rid of the people occupying the building less than a month ago.

Residents also said the family who died in the tragedy had had their water and electricity cut off for months.