Emergency services in Murcia, southeastern Spain, reported on Sunday that at least 13 people have died as a result of a fire in neighboring nightclubs while rescue teams continue to search for individuals whose fate remains unknown after the incident.

One survivor said, "Five family members and two friends are missing."

A member of the Spanish national police confirmed to reporters that victims were found in the La Fonda nightclub, one of the three neighboring nightclubs that suffered the most damage from the fire, particularly its collapsed roof.

He added that the collapse made it difficult to locate the victims, and it is challenging to pinpoint the exact spot where the fire started.

He continued that identifying the bodies will take some time. Emergency services reported that the number of fatalities, which has been rising throughout the day, has reached 13. An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.

For his part, José Ballesta, the mayor of Murcia, told reporters earlier that authorities had found seven bodies in the same area on the first floor where the fire broke out.

Maria Dolores Albihn, a spokesperson for the Teatro nightclub, told reporters that the fire first broke out in the neighboring La Fonda nightclub before the flames spread to the adjacent nightclubs.

Ballesta also announced a three-day mourning period for the victims. Flags have been flown at half-mast outside the Murcia Town Hall.

A video posted on the Murcia emergency management account on X showed firefighters trying to control the flames inside the nightclub, as well as showing the roof with parts destroyed by the fire.

Ballesta told the 24-hour news channel of Spanish television, "We are in mourning," and added that rescue teams continue searching for missing persons.

He also added that the fire broke out around six in the morning local time and was brought under control.

He mentioned that four people are being treated in the hospital for smoke inhalation.