Fire at Chilean Nursing Home Claims 16 Lives as Nationwide Safety Review Initiated

At least 16 elderly residents have died in a fire at a nursing home in southern Chile, authorities confirmed.

The blaze at El Edén care facility, located approximately 640 kilometers (400 miles) south of Santiago, erupted on Friday evening and prompted the evacuation of 10 other residents.

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Jorge Granada, the lead prosecutor overseeing the investigation, stated that the cause of the incident remains undetermined at this time.

Chilean President José Antonio Kast announced a nationwide assessment of nursing home conditions following the tragedy. He emphasized full cooperation with the judicial system to uncover any lapses in oversight or emergency response protocols, and to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.

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The fire reignited at 22:30 local time (01:30 GMT) and was extinguished by Saturday morning. Firefighters continued clearing debris and collapsed metal roofing sections through the day, while police maintained cordoned-off safety perimeters around the site.

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Local mayor Jacqueline Romero expressed profound grief, stating, “This situation fills our hearts with deep sorrow and pain. We are providing ongoing support to affected families.”

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