No fewer than 10 people have lost their lives, and several others injured in a fire at a retirement home in Villafranca de Ebro, near Zaragoza in north-eastern Spain.
The tragic incident occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.
Local officials confirmed that over 80 people were present in the home when the fire broke out around 5:00 a.m.
Emergency services responded promptly, and firefighters managed to extinguish the flames. However, the high casualty toll has been attributed to smoke inhalation rather than fire damage to the single-story building.
Villafranca de Ebro’s mayor, Volga Ramírez, revealed that two individuals were hospitalized, including one in critical condition.
While the ages of the deceased have not been disclosed, it is suspected that a burning mattress in one of the rooms may have caused the fire.
Ramírez described the event as a tragedy, noting, “The quick response limited structural damage, but the smoke proved fatal for many of the residents.”
The Spanish government’s delegate in the Aragón region, Fernando Beltrán, extended his condolences to the victims and their families.
Authorities are monitoring the condition of those hospitalized and have launched an investigation into the fire’s cause.
Beltrán assured, “We will ensure a thorough investigation while supporting the recovery of those affected.”
The facility, initially established 16 years ago as a traditional retirement home, has since become a specialized care center for residents with mental health conditions.
