Panic erupted in the Lo Pagán district of San Pedro del Pinatar (Murcia), after a powerful explosion tore through the closed Casa Javi bar around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. The blast occurred close to the weekly market held every Thursday on Calle Torres Fontes, a location crowded with vendors and shoppers at the time.
“I was at the fruit stall when there was this deafening boom,” said Miguel, a market-goer. “It was sharp and sudden, fruit flew everywhere, people screamed, and we saw several with cuts from shattered glass.”
Nearby residents also felt the force of the explosion. Fina and Antonio, a couple living just streets away on Sáenz Flores, described the sound as earth-shaking. “It felt like an earthquake. People were bleeding from their heads—it was terrifying,” said Fina, comparing the intensity to a sonic boom. “We even thought it might have been a bomb.”
Emergency services rushed to the scene, finding that the bar was closed at the time of the explosion. No staff or patrons were inside, but the blast injured 17 people outside—mostly market shoppers and workers. Three victims were reported to be in serious condition, including individuals aged between 16 and 83.
Among the injured was Rocío, who had just arrived at the market with her 68-year-old mother, Rogelia. “We heard this massive blast right in front of us,” she said. “My mother was hit in the leg—there was so much blood.” A bystander quickly used his shirt as a tourniquet, while others brought water and cloths. “Doctors told us that quick action likely saved her life,” Rocío said.
Authorities suspect a gas leak may have triggered the explosion, with Mayor Pedro Javier Sánchez referring to it as a possible “deflagration.” Witnesses reportedly heard a distinct sound of a gas-related blast emanating from the closed establishment.
The Casa Javi bar has a history of complaints and incidents. Local police had previously filed reports against the venue for noise disturbances and fights. Just days earlier, on June 11, firefighters had been called to extinguish a fire at the bar, which at that time did impact upper residential units. Fortunately, the apartments above were vacant at the time of this week’s explosion, as they are primarily used as holiday homes.
Three of the seriously injured were transferred to hospitals for treatment: two to Virgen de la Arrixaca Hospital in Murcia, one admitted to the ICU and another to the burns unit, and one to Los Arcos del Mar Menor Hospital in San Javier.
As a result of the explosion, all scheduled events for the town’s patron saint festival were suspended. “Our only concern right now is the recovery of the injured,” said Mayor Sánchez. “The entire town is shaken by what happened.”
The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on the cause of the explosion and whether proper safety protocols were followed at the establishment.
