Overview
- A blaze broke out at Hogar El Edén in Pitrufquén on Friday night and authorities say 16 residents died while 10 were rescued and taken to local hospitals or sheltered by officials.
- The Fiscalía dispatched prosecutor Jorge Granada Riquelme and teams from the Organized Crime and Homicide unit to determine the fire’s origin, rule out third-party involvement, and verify the home’s permits.
- Regional health authorities and the municipality say the private home had repeated sanitary sanctions and a sumario since 2019 and that the town requested an inspection earlier this year.
- Officials reported 24 residents were in the facility that night and only one caregiver was on duty, raising urgent questions about staffing, unlocked exits, and emergency procedures.
- The president ordered immediate national checks of elder-care facilities, the Municipality of Pitrufquén declared three days of mourning, and families and survivors are receiving medical and social support while the probe continues.