A fire broke out late on Friday at the El Edén nursing home, located about 640 kilometres south of Santiago in the Araucanía region. The blaze started at approximately 22:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and was not fully extinguished until the following morning, when firefighters were still clearing collapsed corrugated metal roofing and removing debris.
Sixteen elderly residents died in the incident, while ten were evacuated safely. Prosecutor Jorge Granada, who is overseeing the investigation, said that the exact trigger of the fire remains unknown at this stage. Police have cordoned off the site to preserve safety and evidence as the investigation continues.
President José Antonio Kast announced a nationwide review of nursing home conditions in response to the tragedy, pledging full cooperation with the justice system to uncover any lapses in oversight or prevention. Local mayor Jacqueline Romero expressed deep sorrow over the loss and promised support for the affected families.
Category: International
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