A house fire in Lima, Peru, has claimed the lives of 10 members of the same family, including five children and four adults, police say.
The blaze, which began around 3 a.m. local time in the southern La Victoria district, was reported by Peruvian National Police official Gen Oscar Arriola to have spread quickly through flammable materials in the home.
Five children aged three, six, six, eight and 15 were among the victims, along with adults aged 29, 35, 42 and 72. A fifth adult of unknown age also died. Two people were injured.
Investigators are looking into reports that the fire was caused by arsonists. Local media suggest the family, who manufacture mattresses and own electric motorcycles, had received threats and extortion demands.
According to a report from the national news agency Andina, neighbors said unknown individuals set fire to motorcycles parked outside, and the flames quickly spread through the mattress‑making equipment inside the home.
Seventeen members of the family were inside the building when the fire started; seven managed to escape, while the others were trapped and perished. The police described the bodies as burned beyond recognition.
In a statement, the National Police of Peru said: "Today, all of Peru falls silent in the face of a tragedy that plunges our nation into mourning."
