This footage was filmed and produced 22 February 2024.

A devastating fire in the Spanish city of Valencia has claimed the lives of at least five people and left up to 15 individuals missing, according to emergency services.

The fire broke out in a 14-storey apartment block in the Campanar neighbourhood, eventually spreading to an adjoining building and engulfing both structures. Firefighters were seen heroically rescuing people from balconies as the blaze raged on.

Experts have pointed to highly flammable cladding on the building as a major factor in the fire's rapid spread. The block, which housed 450 residents in 138 flats, now stands as a charred and gutted husk.

Despite the valiant efforts of more than 20 fire crews, strong winds only served to worsen the situation. A total of 15 people, including six firefighters and a young child, have been injured, though they are not in life-threatening condition.

Valencia Mayor Maria Jose Catala has reported that authorities are still working to locate between nine and 15 missing individuals. The regional representative of the government has stated that 14 people remain unaccounted for.

As the community begins to grapple with this tragedy, officials have urged the public to stay away from the area as investigations into the cause of the fire continue.