17 youths found dead in Spanish hostel

Seventeen youths were found dead at a hostel in eastern Spain today, apparently from gas fumes while celebrating a birthday party, reports said.

The youths spent Saturday night in a hostel in the hamlet of Todolella and apparently left open a gas canister used for cooking or heating, the national news agency Efe said.

The youths were locals celebrating a birthday party, Efe said, quoting the Interior Ministry office in the provincial capital, Castellon.

Police in Castellon confirmed there were deaths at the hostel but said they had no further details.

The newspaper El Mundo’s website quoted Town Hall officials and the Civil Guard as saying the youths died overnight and their bodies were found at 5pm (4pm Irish time) Sunday.

It said the hostel is set in the mountains and frequented by bikers, hikers and horseback riders.