Sunday 13 / September / 2026
Santiago: Chilean authorities have reported that 16 elderly people died and ten others were injured when a fire broke out at a care home in the Araucanía region, about 640 kilometres south of the capital, Santiago.
Firefighting teams brought the blaze under control, while debris clearance continued and police cordoned off the site.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, and authorities have launched an investigation to determine its origin and rule out criminal involvement.
Health authorities said the care home had a record of operational violations, with administrative measures and fines imposed since 2019.
Chilean President José Antonio Kast demanded an investigation into the incident and ordered "urgent measures" to review conditions at elderly care homes nationwide.
