At least 10 people were killed after a fire broke out in a retirement home in the northern Spanish town of Villafranca de Ebro early on Friday, authorities said.
The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltran, the national government's top official in Aragon region, told reporters.
All the victims were elderly people living in the Jardines de Villafranca residence, a care home for people with mental health issues, Aragon regional president Jorge Azcon told reporters.
One person was in a critical condition and another was in a serious condition, Azcon said.
The fire started at around 5 a.m. and it took about two hours for firefighters to extinguish it, a spokesperson for the regional government said.
Firefighter chief Eduardo Sanchez told reporters the fire was contained to the room where it started and that the fatalities were caused by smoke inhalation.
"The doors were closed, they prevented the fire from spreading. The tragedy could have been worse," Azcon said after visiting the building.
Several residents were treated, mainly for smoke inhalation, mayor Volga Ramirez said.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.
Azcon said the priority now was to transfer the residents who were not injured in the blaze to another care home in nearby Huesca.
Read next
08:42
Thousands gathered in Valencia on Saturday in a protest against the government's reaction to the deadly floods that killed more than 220 people. Around 80 people are still missing after heavy rainfall burst the banks of rivers, devastating the Valencia province on 29 October.
14:49
Spain is deploying 7,500 troops to its eastern region hit by deadly floods, where at least 217 people have died
08:57
Flash floods in eastern Spain have left 158 dead, with more missing. Record rainfall devastated the Valencia region, sparking criticism of emergency response amid rising climate concerns.
09:30
At least 95 people have been killed in the deadliest flooding to hit Spain for three decades after torrential rain battered the eastern region of Valencia
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment