Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his “shock over the tragedy” following reports that a fire claimed the lives of 10 individuals at a facility for the elderly and those with mental health conditions in northeastern Spain.
A senior firefighter indicated that a fire door helped to contain the flames, while a regional official commended the prompt actions of care home staff in evacuating the residents.
An executive from the organization managing the home suggested that the fire may have been ignited by someone smoking.
Additionally, two individuals suffered critical injuries in the incident.
At the time of the fire, there were 69 residents and two employees present, a revision down from an initial estimate of 82.
The blaze was primarily confined to a single room due to the security door (Image: Google maps)
Firefighters managed to swiftly bring the fire under control.
They reported that the fatalities resulted from smoke inhalation.
The fire was mainly concentrated in one room due to a security door, but smoke spread throughout the facility, as reported by the town’s mayor, Volga Ramirez Gamiz.
“There was an abundance of smoke, even outside; it was hard to breathe,” she said, detailing how she and her husband rushed to the location to assist with the evacuations.
“We got everyone out who was alive before the fire brigade arrived,” Ms. Gamiz added, stating, “only the deceased remained inside.”
The 57 survivors who were unharmed were transferred to another care facility.
‘Caught in the smoke’
The establishment, which opened in 2008 as a home for the elderly, had recently begun accommodating individuals with mental health disorders.
Many residents experienced “mobility issues,” which complicated their evacuation, Ms. Gamiz noted.
According to Jorge Azcón, head of the Aragon government, all the victims were residents of the facility.
“I believe the two workers at the residence heard the alarm and took action – I think they did an extraordinary job,” he remarked.
Mr. Azcón also declared a day of mourning.
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Eduardo Sanchez, fire chief from the nearby city of Zaragoza, informed reporters that many residents “were in bed, unable to move. They were caught in the smoke.”
However, he mentioned that half of the building was saved from the flames thanks to a fire door.
Investigators are still probing the cause of the fire, but Paquita Morata, director of the association running the residence, suggested that “it was likely started by someone smoking in a room.”
Staffing issues
Ángel Víctor Torres, the minister responsible for cooperation with Spain’s regions, indicated that a shortage of staff at the residence during the incident might have contributed to the death toll.
He emphasized the need for “residences to adopt different formats, and undoubtedly, these are matters that should urge us to reflect and reconsider,” he told Spanish public television.
“What we cannot allow is budget cuts when it comes to the elderly, as they have difficulties in any situation to move,” he added.
The Spanish Prime Minister reiterated his “shock at the tragedy,” wishing for a swift recovery for the injured.
Spain has experienced other tragic fires in nursing homes in recent years.
In February, a fire in a nursing home in Madrid resulted in three fatalities, and in January 2022, another nine people lost their lives in a nursing home in Moncada, located in the eastern region of Valencia.
