A fire at the El Edén nursing home in southern Chile has claimed the lives of 16 elderly residents. The incident occurred on Friday evening at the facility, located approximately 640 kilometers south of Santiago.
Emergency services managed to evacuate 10 other residents as the fire broke out around 22:30 local time. Firefighters worked through the night, finally extinguishing the flames on Saturday morning. Crews remained on-site throughout the day to clear debris and remove damaged roofing materials while police secured the perimeter.
Prosecutor Jorge Granada stated that the origin of the blaze remains under investigation. In response to the tragedy, President José Antonio Kast has mandated a comprehensive review of nursing home conditions nationwide. The president emphasized the need for accountability, stating, "We need to know the truth and, based on that, correct whatever is necessary to do everything possible to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again."
Local mayor Jacqueline Romero expressed the community's grief, noting that authorities are currently focused on providing support to the affected families.
Source: BBC News
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