Fire at nursing home in Chile kills 16 residents
At least 16 elderly residents have died and 10 others were evacuated after a fire tore through the El Edén nursing home in southern Chile, roughly 640km south of Santiago, on Friday evening. Chilean President José Antonio Kast has ordered a nationwide review of conditions at care homes, saying authorities need to establish where oversight or prevention may have failed and what warnings were raised before the blaze.
The fire broke out at around 22:30 local time and was not extinguished until Saturday morning, with firefighters still clearing debris and collapsed corrugated metal roofing the following day. Prosecutor Jorge Granada, who is leading the investigation, said the cause of the fire remains unclear. Police cordoned off the site, while local mayor Jacqueline Romero described the tragedy as one that "fills our souls with great sorrow and pain" and said support was being provided to affected families.
- Fire at Chilean nursing home kills at least 16 elderly residents
- President Kast orders review of care home conditions nationwide
- Cause of blaze still unknown; investigation under way