Two people died after a waiter set fire to food in a restaurant

Burro Canaglia fire aftermath in central Madrid

Two people die after a waiter sets a dish on fire and accidentally sets fire to a restaurant in Madrid on Friday.

Firefighters called to the Burro Canaglia restaurant in the city center discovered a wall of fire blocking the entrance to the establishment.

According to local media, two of the dead were women. a customer and a 25-year-old restaurant employee. Eight people were taken to hospital after inhaling the smoke.

The woman was reportedly a 43-year-old nurse from Bilbao, who was visiting Madrid for several days.

Several people from those treated for smoke poisoning and burns are in critical condition in various hospitals in the Madrid area.

The fire started near the door, meaning many people were trapped inside as the decorations, including many plastic plants, caught fire quickly.

“The fire appears to have started when a flambéed pizza was served, which set fire to the decorations in the restaurant,” José Luis Martínez-Almeida, mayor of Madrid, told Spain's state television TVE.

He said the death toll could have been higher if firefighters had not reacted quickly just 100 meters from restaurant.

Emergency workers assist victims on the street after a fire on Friday evening. Photo: Madrid Emergency Services/Reuters

“We saved 12 people. people who were trapped inside because the restaurant had only one exit,” said firefighter Carlos Marin.

“Some people managed to hide in the kitchen, duck down and wait, but the conditions were terrible for everyone. inside.”

David and Ruth, who were dining at the restaurant around 11 p.m. on Friday, told El País newspaper that they saw a waiter walking past their table holding «a flame dish in one hand and a blowtorch in the other.»

Within seconds, they said, the restaurant caught fire.

Eyewitnesses say several patrons ran through the flames that engulfed the exit as the burning decorations fell, with some suffering burns.

Others said that a group of people tried to break the window with an umbrella on the terrace to open a safer escape route.

“Artificial plants are usually made from plastic or other flammable materials. The fire is spreading at full speed, and the problem is not only that the ceiling is on fire, but that the plastic melts and falls to the ground, as if it is raining,” said one of the firefighters.

Burro Canaglia introduced pizza 'inferno' on its menu a year ago

Mr Martinez-Almeida said there would be an investigation into the cause of the fire and the restaurant's compliance with safety regulations.

He said that the restaurant's only exit was justified by the small size of the establishment.

Madrid restaurant design rules state that combustible materials must be «non-combustible.» flammable.»

Burro Canaglia, a chain of Italian restaurants headquartered in Seville, introduced «inferno» pizza to its menu a year ago.

The company said in a statement: «Sincere condolences to the families victims.»