Ice hockey rink in Spain being transformed into morgue amidst COVID-19 outbreak
Madrid, Spain — As the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak continues to climb in numbers throughout the country, many Municipal funeral homes have been forced to shut down due to a lack of masks and protective gear.
As of Monday, Spain's capital city has reported over 1,200 deaths related to the outbreak. With limited services and a climbing fatality rate, it has lead the City Council, military and regional government to agree to turn the “Ice Palace,” an indoor ice rink in Madrid, into a functioning morgue.
"Preparations have begun so that the installations ceded by the Ice Palace can receive bodies, and facilitate the work of funeral services in the face of this exceptional situation," the regional government of Madrid said in an issued statement.
Bodies are expected to arrive at the facility as early as Monday evening, with the cold temperatures from the ice providing sufficient and effective storing grounds.
Madrid City Council commented on the decision;
“We know that it is a very delicate issue, but there was no other option, it is a necessary reaction.
Hospitals and crematoriums cannot cope with more.”
A City Council Spokesperson also stated;
“Logically speaking, it is an ideal place to keep corpses as due to the conditions, decomposition will be avoided.”
And as the pandemic continues to spread through the city, a place known for ice hockey tournaments and free skating will become one of the city's largest (temporary) morgues, seemingly overnight.
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MAY 25, 2026
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| G | A | PTS | ||
| Shayne Gostisbehere | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Michael Matheson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Ivan Demidov | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jake Evans | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Mark Jankowski | - | 1 | 1 | |
| K'Andre Miller | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | - | - | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Josh Anderson | - | - | - | |
| Zachary Bolduc | - | - | - | |
| Alexandre Carrier | - | - | - | |
| William Carrier | - | - | - | |
| Cole Caufield | - | - | - | |
| Jalen Chatfield | - | - | - | |
| Kirby Dach | - | - | - | |
| Phillip Danault | - | - | - | |
| Jakub Dobes | - | - | - | |
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