In Spain, at least 10 dead in the fire at a center welcoming people with mental disorders

A violent fire left at least ten dead and two seriously injured on Friday, November 15, in a residence housing elderly people and people with mental disorders near Zaragoza, capital of the Aragon region, in the northeast of Spain. “At least ten people died in the fire” of this “retirement home”Who “happened at dawn”reported the emergency services on the social network

According to the authorities, the fire broke out around 5 a.m., for a reason still unknown, in the Jardines de Villafranca residence, in Villafranca de Ebro, a village of 840 inhabitants located in the heart of Aragon. A total of 82 people were in the residence when the fire broke out. According to the Minister of Territorial Policy, Angel Victor Torres, the disaster caused “ten dead and two injured”hospitalized “in critical condition”.

“When we arrived, the evacuation of residents had already begun. We completed this evacuation and extinguished the fire”Eduardo Sanchez, head of fire and civil protection in Zaragoza, told journalists.

Victims “unable to move”

The mayor of Villafranca de Ebro, Volga Ramirez Gamiz, said the fire started in a resident's room. According to the first elements of the investigation, it is a mattress which could have caught fire in the room of a resident, she specified on Cadena SER radio.

“I cannot yet say what the cause of death of each of these ten people is, as this is under investigationassured journalists the delegate of the government of Aragon Fernando Beltran. But in a phenomenon of this nature, the majority of deaths are generally due to smoke inhalation.he added, specifying that the residence accommodated people suffering “reduced mobility or pathology”.

During the fire, the victims “were in their beds, unable to move. They were caught in the smoke”confirmed Eduardo Sanchez, specifying that the sector where the fire broke out had a fire door, thanks to which “half the building was sheltered”.

Lack of staff

The Jardines de Villafranca residence, a one-story brick building, was opened in 2008, according to information posted on its website. This retirement home had recently specialized in welcoming people suffering from mental health problems. This residence welcomes “people from all walks of life”confirmed the mayor of Villafranca de Ebro. “It’s not just old people, there are young people who have mental problems”some elderly “25 years old”she clarified. According to authorities, the residents were transferred to other establishments.

If the causes of the fire were not yet known Friday morning, the possible lack of staff in this establishment was highlighted by the authorities, who reported that only two employees were on site at the time of the disaster.

Questioned by public television TVE, Angel Victor Torres refused to comment, ensuring that the investigation should clarify the circumstances of the fire. What is certain is that“there can be no reductions” budgetary “when it comes to elderly people”he declared.

“An investigation is underway, which will lead to the discovery of the origin, reason and circumstances” of the fire, insisted the minister.

In a message on X, the president of Aragon, Jorge Azcon, said “shocked” because “tragic fire”. “My most sincere condolences to the families of the deceased”wrote the conservative leader, announcing “suspend” his diary. “All my affection to the families and colleagues of the deceased, to the workers of the center and to all the Aragonese people. I hope that those in serious condition will recover as quickly as possible.”reacted for his part the Socialist Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez.

Several tragic fires have already occurred in recent years in Spanish retirement homes. In January 2022, six elderly people died while sleeping in a medical residence in the town of Moncada, near Valencia. And last February, three people died in a fire in a retirement home in Madrid.