Chile nursing home fire kills 16 elderly residents, 10 hospitalised

Alate-night fire at a nursing home in southern Chile has killed 16 elderly residents and injured 10 others, in one of the deadliest fires to hit the area in recent years.

The blaze broke out late Friday, September 11, at the single-storey El Edén nursing home in Villa Comuy, near Pitrufquén in Chile’s La Araucanía region, reported AFP. The facility is located around 640 kilometres (400 miles) south of the capital Santiago.

Emergency services were alerted at around 10:30 pm local time, prompting firefighters, municipal emergency teams and other first responders to rush to the scene. Videos and images shared on social media showed huge flames engulfing the building as firefighters battled the blaze through the night.

The fire was brought under control early Saturday morning. Images from the scene showed the nursing home’s structure badly damaged, with charred debris and sections of the corrugated metal roof collapsing.

There were 26 elderly residents inside the facility when the fire broke out. Emergency personnel managed to evacuate 10 of them, who were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The remaining 16 residents died in the blaze.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the fire and whether any other factors contributed to the deaths.

Jorge Granada, the lead prosecutor overseeing the case, said investigators were examining the scene and questioning people as part of efforts to establish where and how the fire began.

“We are currently carrying out investigative procedures, including examining the scene and conducting inquiries, to determine the origin and cause of the fire, as well as to rule out third-party involvement,” Granada said as cited by the BBC.

Questions have also emerged over the nursing home’s regulatory record.

Regional health official José Bravo said the facility had been operating under administrative oversight and had faced repeated fines and sanction proceedings since 2019 for alleged regulatory violations.

Pitrufquén Mayor Jacqueline Romero said municipal authorities had raised concerns about the facility earlier this year and had sought an urgent health inspection.

“In February, the municipality sent a letter specifically requesting an inspection because the facility was not complying with regulations,” Romero told local media.

Municipal officials said support teams were working with the families of the victims following the tragedy.

Chile orders review of elderly care facilities

The fire has also prompted a wider national response. Chilean President José Antonio Kast ordered a nationwide review of senior care facilities, with authorities expected to examine fire safety measures, emergency procedures and compliance with existing regulations.

The review will also look at whether failures in oversight or safety standards may have contributed to the disaster.

Local officials in Pitrufquén expressed their grief over the deaths, describing the incident as one of the most tragic events in the municipality’s recent history.

The investigation into the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths is continuing

Source: Firstpost