16 killed in fire at elderly care home in Chile — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): A fire at a nursing home for elderly people in southern Chile has killed 16 people and left a dozen others hospitalised, a media report said on Sunday. The blaze broke out late on Friday at the single-storey care home in Pitrufquén, in the Araucanía region, about 640km (400 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, Agence France-Presse reported. It said 26 elderly people were inside the facility when the fire started. Ten survived and were taken to a local hospital, according to the local government. The private facility had faced regulatory problems since 2019, including fines and enforcement proceedings, and had been operating outside regulations. Firefighters extinguished the blaze early Saturday. Images posted on social media showed flames engulfing the building overnight, while firefighters used water hoses to battle the blaze. Pitrufquén Mayor Jacqueline Romero said municipal health and public safety teams, firefighters and police were working at the scene and supporting relatives of the victims. She added that the municipality had requested an inspection of the facility in February this year over non-compliance with regulations and health requirements. Meanwhile, Chilean President José Antonio Kast called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. He also ordered an urgent nationwide inspection of care homes for elderly people to identify existing problems and take necessary measures to…