Murcia Nightclub Fire: Owners Face Eight Years in Jail for Blaze That Killed 13 People

Up to Eight and a Half Years Sought for Seven Defendants

Prosecutors are demanding jail sentences of up to eight and a half years for seven defendants connected to the Murcia nightclub fire that killed 13 people in October 2023. The fire broke out in the Atalayas district of Murcia and tore through two adjoining clubs — Teatre and Fonda Milagros — in one of the deadliest nightclub tragedies in Spain in recent memory.

The prosecution's case is set out in a 64-page report that details a catalogue of safety failures, unlicensed operations and negligent decisions that, prosecutors say, created the conditions for the disaster.

What the Prosecution Alleges

The charges sought against the defendants include:

• 13 counts of manslaughter
• 12 counts of negligent injury
• One count of crimes against employee safety

In addition to custodial sentences, prosecutors are also seeking bans on the defendants managing any public-facing businesses in the future.

The Spark Machines That Started the Fire

The blaze was ignited by cold-fire spark-generating machines — devices commonly used in nightclubs and events to create visual effects. According to prosecutors, the owner of the equipment "took no precautions" regarding the risks of using such machines indoors.

Cold-spark machines are designed for outdoor or large, well-ventilated spaces. Used in an enclosed indoor environment, their sparks can ignite flammable materials rapidly — and once a fire takes hold in a crowded venue, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Operating Without Licences

The prosecution report reveals that both venues — Teatre and Fonda Milagros — were operating without the proper licences required to open as public entertainment spaces. This meant neither premises had been through the legal inspections that would normally identify safety deficiencies before a venue can admit the public.

Lawyer José Manuel Muñoz, representing the families of the victims, has pointed to a wider institutional failure: the Murcia City Council allowed unlicensed operation to continue for years without conducting inspections that would have flagged the absence of valid permits. Civil proceedings against the council are proceeding separately from the criminal case.

Illegal Building Work "Decisively Contributed" to Fire Spreading

A significant element of the prosecution's case concerns building modifications carried out in 2017, which physically separated Teatre and Fonda Milagros into two distinct premises — without administrative approval.

Prosecutors allege that this unauthorised construction work "decisively contributed to the rapid spread of fire between the two units". By altering the building's layout without proper oversight, the modification may have compromised fire compartmentalisation that would otherwise have slowed the fire's progress and given more people time to escape.

Defendants "Were Fully Aware" of the Risks

The prosecution does not accept that these were simple oversights. The 64-page report states that the defendants "were fully aware" that their activities posed a risk to the guests in their venues. This framing is significant in Spanish law, as awareness of risk can be a factor in distinguishing between different degrees of culpability in a negligence case.

Families Seek Millions in Compensation

Alongside the criminal proceedings, civil cases are moving through the courts separately. Lawyer José Manuel Muñoz has requested matching prison terms for the defendants in the civil action, as well as millions of euros in compensation for the families of the 13 people who lost their lives.

The fire killed 13 people and injured 12 others. For the families, the legal process represents the closest thing to accountability they can seek after a night out turned into a tragedy.

No trial date has been set at the time of writing. The criminal and civil proceedings will continue through Spain's court system.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 21, 2026. The defendants are charged but have not yet been convicted. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.