Soccer games involving Valencia and Levante postponed after deadly fire in eastern Spain
A housing block burns in Valencia, Spain, Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. The cause of the fire is unknown and if there are any victims. Credit: AP/Alberto Saiz
MADRID — Soccer games involving Valencia and Levante have been postponed after both clubs requested not to play in the immediate aftermath of a deadly fire in the eastern Spanish city of Valencia, the Spanish league said Friday.
The fire engulfed two residential towers in Valencia on Thursday night. Authorities have reported four confirmed deaths and that 14 people are still missing.
Valencia was scheduled to visit Granada in the Spanish league on Saturday, the same day Levante was set to host Andorra in the second division. The league has yet to announce new dates for the games.
The league said that the two Valencia-based clubs had requested the postponement “due to the dramatic fire that took place yesterday in Valencia that claimed human lives.”
The league said that a minute of silence will be held before all the first- and second-division games this weekend in memory of the victims.
Also, the Spanish soccer federation said a minute of silence will be held before Spain's Women's Nations League semifinal match against the Netherlands in Seville on Friday.
The Valencia regional government declared three days of mourning.