Fountain collapses during Spain's World Cup victory celebrations, killing a 13-year-old boy

In the Spanish town of Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca province), a fountain known as Glorieta del Árbol Gordo collapsed overnight under the weight of celebrating football fans, as the country marked Spain's World Cup victory. According to the newspaper El País, the tragedy occurred around 12:30 a.m., killing a 13-year-old boy and injuring another person.

Young people traditionally gather at the fountain to celebrate major events — it's a popular spot for festivities in the town of roughly 11,000 residents. Jubilant fans had climbed onto the fountain's raised basin, supported by a stone column, waving flags in celebration. But the structure couldn't bear the load and collapsed onto the people celebrating below.

Several local police officers tried to help the injured teenager by clearing the debris, but he later died of his injuries. The exact number of casualties and their condition have not yet been disclosed.

"What was meant to be a celebration of Spain's World Cup victory turned into a tragedy," city officials said in a statement. Authorities offered condolences to the boy's family and wished a swift recovery to those injured.

Spain's Sunday victory over Argentina — sixteen years after the country's first-ever World Cup triumph — sparked jubilant celebrations across the nation. As soon as the final whistle blew, Spain erupted with joy: car horns, vuvuzelas, firecrackers and fireworks filled the air well into the night.

By Monday morning, central Madrid was littered with rubbish, beer cans and broken glass. City crews rushed to clean the streets ahead of the champions' arrival: the team's flight from the United States is expected shortly before noon. The squad will travel through the city centre, with the motorcade set to finish that evening at Plaza de Cibeles, home to Madrid's city hall.

Source: novinky.cz