Fire at Chilean nursing home leaves 16 elderly residents dead
A fire broke out at the El Edén nursing home in Pitrufquén, Chile, resulting in the deaths of 16 elderly residents. Ten others were hospitalized, while 26 individuals were present during the incident.
Sources
A fire at a nursing home in Pitrufquen, southern Chile, resulted in 16 fatalities among elderly residents, with 10 others hospitalized; 26 individuals were present at the time of the blaze. The facility had previously faced fines and enforcement actions for regulatory noncompliance, and local authorities had requested an inspection in February due to ongoing issues. Chile's President Jose Antonio Kast has called for an investigation into the incident and has ordered urgent assessments of nursing home conditions nationwide.
At least 16 elderly residents have died in a fire at the El Edén nursing home in Chile, located about 640km (400 miles) south of Santiago, with ten others evacuated after the blaze broke out on Friday evening. The fire started around 22:30 (01:30 GMT) and was extinguished by Saturday morning, while local officials are investigating the cause and reviewing nursing home conditions nationwide. President José Antonio Kast has pledged full cooperation with the justice system to clarify the circumstances of the incident and prevent future tragedies.