Early Friday morning, a fire erupted at a dementia care home in Villafranca de Ebro, Spain, resulting in ten fatalities attributed to smoke inhalation. Emergency services responded promptly, with reports suggesting the blaze may have originated from a mattress. Two individuals were hospitalized, while the Prime Minister and local officials expressed their condolences.
Devastating Care Home Fire Claims Ten Lives in Spain
Devastating Care Home Fire Claims Ten Lives in Spain
A tragic fire at a care home near Zaragoza leaves at least ten dead and prompts an investigation.
A devastating fire broke out at a care home in Villafranca de Ebro, a town near Zaragoza, in northeastern Spain, early on Friday morning. As of reports, at least ten individuals have lost their lives, primarily due to smoke inhalation, with emergency services indicating that they received the alarm just before 05:00 local time.
At the time of the incident, the facility, which had been operational for 16 years and catered specifically to residents with dementia and mental health conditions, housed 82 individuals. Local authorities have confirmed a significant response from firefighters, who successfully extinguished the blaze shortly after it was reported.
While the exact ages of the deceased are still being determined, it has been suggested that the fire may have originated from a mattress igniting in one of the residents’ rooms, as reported by eyewitnesses and local officials. The mayor, presenting a grim account of the situation, recounted that the smoke was so thick it rendered breathing nearly impossible for those trying to rescue residents.
In a procedural response to the tragedy, residents of the affected care home have been relocated to alternative accommodations. On the scene, Volga Ramírez, the mayor of Villafranca de Ebro, noted the minimal fire damage to the structure but highlighted the smoke’s dangerous impact.
The Spanish government's delegate in the Aragón region, Fernando Beltrán, has offered condolences to the victims’ families and confirmed that efforts will continue to monitor the condition of those hospitalized, as well as the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire. In solidarity, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez conveyed his shock and sorrow over the incident. This tragic event echoes a similar fire nine years prior in the Zaragoza area, which also resulted in multiple fatalities.
