By TheDailyNewsHub
At least 16 elderly residents have died after a fire swept through a nursing home in southern Chile, in a tragedy that has prompted an investigation into the facility’s operations and safety conditions.
The fire broke out late Friday night at the El Edén elderly care home in Villa Comuy, in the municipality of Pitrufquén, in Chile’s La Araucanía region, about 640 kilometres south of the capital, Santiago. Authorities said the blaze began at around 10:30 p.m. and was brought under control in the early hours of Saturday.
There were 26 residents inside the facility when the fire started. Emergency responders managed to evacuate 10 people, who were taken to a local hospital for treatment. Sixteen others died in the blaze.
Firefighters from Pitrufquén, Comuy and neighbouring communities, alongside police and emergency medical personnel, responded to the incident. After the flames were brought under control, rescue teams found the victims inside the facility.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established. Chilean prosecutors have ordered specialised police units and forensic investigators to examine the scene and determine how the fire started and whether any other factors contributed to the deaths.
The tragedy has also raised questions about the regulatory status of the nursing home. Local authorities said the facility had previously faced sanitary and regulatory concerns. Chilean authorities are investigating whether it had the required authorisation to operate and whether earlier warnings or irregularities were properly addressed.
The owner of the facility has been questioned by investigators in connection with the case, but no conclusion of criminal responsibility has been established. The investigation is still ongoing.
The deaths have prompted widespread concern in Chile over the safety and oversight of elderly care facilities. Authorities are expected to examine the home’s safety arrangements, staffing, licensing and emergency procedures as part of the investigation.
TheDailyNewsHub will update this report as investigators release further details on the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.