Dutch woman is killed by bar explosion in southern Spain ‘while visiting weekly market’

A Dutch woman has died after being severely injured by a bar explosion in southern Spain.

The 56-year-old is one of two women to have died after a gas canister exploded at the Casa Javi bar in San Pedro del Pinatar, Murcia last Thursday.

The victim happened to be passing through the adjacent weekly market when she was struck by the blast.

Respected Spanish newspaper El Español initially reported she was a British expat who lived nearby, citing police sources, but this was later corrected by the authorities.

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The other fatal victim was the 38-year-old owner of the bar, a woman of Moroccan origin named Hind, who suffered severe burns.

A police source said of the Dutch victim: ‘Her head was split open by the explosion as she was passing by the weekly market.’

It comes after a Judicial Police inspection concluded that a butane gas cylinder’s seal had been ‘sabotaged’, which caused the explosion.

Investigators are reportedly trying to determine whether Hind intended to commit suicide or if the cut was ‘revenge for a dispute, disagreement, or a settling of scores.’

Footage showing the aftermath of the blast shows one woman completely covered in blood, while another had her head wrapped in bandages.

Meanwhile, the exterior of the bar can be seen completely destroyed, while market stalls and goods are strewn across the ground.

Both victims had been hospitalised for a week following the incident which saw at least 15 other people injured.

The explosion occurred around 12.15pm, causing scenes of chaos and panic among those present.

A week later, the cause of the tragedy has still not been confirmed by investigators, amid fears it may have been caused deliberately.

Local residents told 20Minutos that there had been complaints about the business.

‘There were a lot of fights outside,’ one said, adding that ‘girls’ were often seen in the area, leading residents to speculate that it could have been operating as some form of brothel.