A devastating fire at the “Jardines de Villafranca” nursing home in Villafranca de Ebro, northeastern Spain, has claimed the lives of at least 10 people and left several others injured. Firefighters battled the flames for hours after the blaze broke out around 5 a.m. on Friday.
The nursing home, located about 35 kilometers from Zaragoza, specializes in caring for individuals with dementia and other mental health conditions. At the time of the fire, 82 residents were in the building. Local authorities confirmed that 10 people had died, with several more injured, including one person in critical condition. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, nor is it clear if all those who perished were residents.
Villafranca de Ebro’s mayor, Volga Ramirez, suggested that the fire may have started from a burning mattress in one of the rooms. Witnesses noted that despite the limited physical damage to the building, the real danger was from the toxic smoke. “It was impossible to breathe inside,” one witness reported.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “I am horrified by the tragedy that occurred this morning at the nursing home in the Zaragoza region. My thoughts are with the families of the victims, and I hope those injured recover quickly.”