Fire kills at least 10 people in Spanish retirement home

At least 10 people tragically lost their lives after a devastating fire tore through a retirement home in the northern Spanish town of Villafranca de Ebro in the early hours of Friday morning. The fire, which began in one of the rooms, quickly spread, engulfing the Jardines de Villafranca residence, a care home for individuals with mental health issues.

Fernando Beltran, the national government’s top official in the Aragon region, informed reporters that all the victims were elderly residents of the facility. Aragon regional president Jorge Azcon added that one person was in critical condition while another was in serious condition as a result of the fire.

The blaze, which started around 5 a.m. local time, took approximately two hours for firefighters to extinguish. Firefighter chief Eduardo Sanchez confirmed that the fire was contained to the room of origin, with the fatalities attributed to smoke inhalation. Despite the tragic loss of life, Azcon expressed gratitude that the closed doors prevented the fire from spreading further, potentially averting an even greater tragedy.

Following the incident, several residents were treated for smoke inhalation, as reported by Mayor Volga Ramirez. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire, as the priority now shifts to relocating uninjured residents to a neighboring care home in Huesca.

The community is left mourning the lives lost in the fire, and the devastating impact on the residents, staff, and families of Jardines de Villafranca. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this heartbreaking event.

The images of the Spanish civil guard working tirelessly at the scene serve as a poignant reminder of the bravery and dedication of first responders in the face of tragedy. May the memories of those lost in this fire be honored and may steps be taken to prevent such incidents in the future.