Chile: 16 elderly dead and 10 others injured in nursing home fire

Chilean authorities announced that 16 elderly people were killed and 10 others injured in a fire that broke out at a nursing home in the Araucanía region, located 640 kilometers south of the capital, Santiago.

Firefighting teams managed to bring the blaze under control, while debris removal operations continued and police established a security perimeter around the site.

The cause of the fire remains unclear, as authorities have launched an investigation to determine its origin and cause, ruling out any criminal suspicion.

Health authorities reported that the nursing home had previously faced operational violations and had been subject to administrative measures and fines since 2019.

Chilean President José Antonio Kast has called for an investigation into the incident and ordered the implementation of “urgent measures” to review the conditions of nursing homes across Chile.