Spanish Retirement Home Fire Claims at Least 10 Lives

A fire at a retirement home in Villafranca de Ebro, northern Spain, early Friday morning resulted in at least 10 fatalities, according to authorities.

Aragon regional government’s top official, Fernando Beltran, confirmed the blaze originated in a single room.

All victims were elderly residents of the Jardines de Villafranca care facility, which caters to individuals with dependencies, as stated by Aragon regional president Jorge Azcon.

Azcon also reported one person is in critical condition, and another is seriously injured.

Beginning around 5 a.m. local time, the fire took approximately two hours to extinguish, a regional government spokesperson stated.

Fire chief Eduardo Sanchez explained that the fire remained contained to its room of origin, attributing the deaths to smoke inhalation.

Azcon, following a visit to the site, commented that the closed doors prevented the fire’s spread, potentially mitigating a greater tragedy.

Multiple residents received treatment, primarily for smoke inhalation, according to mayor Volga Ramirez.

An investigation into the fire’s cause is underway.

Azcon prioritized the relocation of uninjured residents to another care facility in nearby Huesca.