Sixteen elderly residents were killed Sunday evening in a fire that broke out at a retirement home in Manado, North Sulawesi Province, police said.
Authorities said the blaze, which engulfed the single-story facility while residents were asleep, left 15 survivors who received treatment at two local hospitals.
“The on-site team has confirmed 16 fatalities so far,” North Sulawesi police spokesperson Alamsyah Hasibuan said. “Fifteen victims were burned, while one passed away without fire injuries.”
Officials said the victims’ bodies were taken to a hospital for identification with family assistance. Firefighters, deploying six trucks, battled the flames for over two hours after neighbors alerted emergency services. Television footage showed bright flames and smoke rising into the night sky, with body bags lined up outside the home.
Neighbors reportedly helped evacuate some residents. Initial reports pointed to an electrical fault as the cause, but authorities later confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
The tragic fire highlights concerns over safety standards in elderly care facilities in the region.
Source: AP