Salou, Spain – A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when a 36-year-old mother and her 2-year-old daughter were electrocuted and killed in their ground-floor apartment on Carrer de Carles Buïgas in the popular tourist town of Salou.
The victims have been identified as Russian nationals Anna K. and her young daughter Sofia. Emergency services received an urgent call at around 2:30 p.m. reporting that two people had suffered severe electric shocks inside the property. When Mossos d’Esquadra police and paramedics arrived, they found the mother and child unconscious and in cardiac arrest.
Despite immediate resuscitation attempts by medical teams, both were pronounced dead at the scene. A third person, believed to be a family member, was treated for minor injuries and shock but did not require hospitalization.
Preliminary investigations suggest the electrocution occurred when the mother touched a metal shower tap while bathing her daughter. Authorities believe a faulty electrical connection in the building’s water system caused a dangerous voltage to pass through the plumbing. The shower area reportedly showed visible signs of electrical discharge.
Neighbors described hearing screams and a loud bang moments before emergency services rushed to the building. “It was terrible. We heard crying and then everything went quiet. No one expected something like this,” one resident told local media.
Salou’s mayor, Pere Granados, expressed profound sadness over the incident: “Our hearts go out to the family. This is an unimaginable loss. The town is in mourning.”
Police have sealed off the apartment while forensic teams and electrical experts conduct a thorough investigation. The local court has opened an inquiry to determine the exact cause and whether criminal negligence played a role. Investigators are examining the building’s electrical installation, which reportedly passed its last official inspection several years ago.
The Russian Consulate in Barcelona has been informed and is providing assistance to relatives. Funeral arrangements are being coordinated, with the bodies expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
This devastating incident has once again highlighted the hidden dangers of poor electrical maintenance in older buildings, especially in coastal areas where humidity can worsen wiring problems. Local authorities have urged residents and landlords to urgently review electrical and grounding systems to prevent further tragedies.
The tight-knit expatriate community in Salou is rallying to support the grieving family, with messages of condolence pouring in from across the Costa Dorada.
Anna and little Sofia’s sudden deaths have left an unfillable void in the lives of those who knew them. Friends remember Anna as a devoted mother who adored her daughter more than anything. “Sofia was always smiling. They didn’t deserve this,” one close friend said through tears.
