Early Friday morning, a devastating fire erupted at a retirement home in the town of Villafranca de Ebro in northern Spain, resulting in the loss of at least 10 lives. The fire, which started in one of the rooms, quickly spread through the Jardines de Villafranca residence, a care home for individuals with mental health issues.
Authorities confirmed that all the victims were elderly residents of the facility. Regional officials reported that one person was in critical condition, while another was in serious condition due to the fire.
Firefighters worked tirelessly for approximately two hours to extinguish the blaze, which was contained to the room where it originated. Despite the tragic outcome, officials noted that the closed doors helped prevent the fire from spreading further, potentially averting an even greater catastrophe.
Most of the residents who survived the fire required medical attention, primarily for smoke inhalation. The local mayor mentioned that several individuals were treated on-site before being transferred to nearby medical facilities.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the fire, as authorities strive to understand the circumstances that led to this tragic incident. The regional government's immediate focus is on relocating unaffected residents to an alternative care home in the nearby city of Huesca.
