A devastating fire at a retirement home in northeastern Spain has claimed the lives of at least 10 people, with emergency services confirming the tragic toll on Friday.
The blaze broke out early in the morning at the Jardines de Villafranca residence, located in the small town of Villafranca de Ebro, in the Aragon region.
The fire began around 5:00 am (0400 GMT) in one of the residence’s rooms, but according to local authorities, the smoke spread quickly throughout the building, affecting a total of 82 people who were inside at the time.
The town’s mayor, Volga Ramirez Gamiz, confirmed that the fire was concentrated in a single room, but the smoke quickly dispersed, creating hazardous conditions for the residents.
“Fortunately, that room had a security door,” Mayor Gamiz told reporters, explaining that this feature helped contain the flames and prevented the fire from spreading further.
However, the smoke inhalation from the fire is believed to have been the primary cause of the fatalities.
Fernando Beltran, the central government’s representative in the Aragon region, stated that the cause of the fire is still under investigation.
The residence, Jardines de Villafranca, which opened in 2008, had recently specialized in caring for elderly individuals with mental health conditions.
It was not immediately clear how many of the residents were living with such conditions at the time of the fire.
In response to the tragedy, Jorge Azcon, head of the Aragon government, expressed his shock and extended condolences to the victims’ families.
Azcon announced that he would be suspending all public engagements as a mark of mourning for the victims.
Fire in Spanish retirement home claims 10 lives
