12 injured after blast tears through pub in Spain tourist hotspot
A Spanish pub was rocked by a major explosion, leaving at least 12 people injured in the southeastern town today.
The blast occurred at the Casa Javi bar situated in Lo Pagan, San Pedro del Pinatar, just before half past noon local time, near Murcia's Mediterranean coast. Even though it's not as packed with tourists as Spain's bigger resorts, the area has recently seen a visitor boom.
More than 320,000 international holidaymakers visited the area from January to April, a 20% uptick from last year, reports Euro Weekly News. According to La7, emergency crews inclusive of police, firefighters, and medical staff were at the scene swiftly.
Shocking pictures show the bar left in tatters, its canopy shredded, amidst rubble strewn over a bustling market street right at the heart of Lo Pagan. Nearby stalls and shops also caught some of the damage from what's being termed a "powerful explosion", reports the Irish Mirror.
Euro Weekly News attributes the explosion to a gas leak, with authorities currently investigating the cause of the incident. At the time, the Casa Javi bar was closed, however, the town's market day crowd outside bore the brunt of the blast, causing multiple injuries among the onlookers and market visitors.
Out of the 12 people injured, three suffered serious injuries. One individual was rushed to the intensive care unit at the Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia, while another was admitted to the hospital's burns unit.
A third person with severe injuries was transported to Los Arcos del Mar Menor Hospital in nearby San Javier.
Three more individuals with less severe injuries received treatment between Los Arcos and Santa Lucia Hospital in Cartagena. Seven people sustained minor injuries and were cared for at a local health centre.
No fatalities have been reported. Emergency services continue to remain on site to assess the full extent of the damage.
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