Tragedy in Uruguay: Fire in residence leaves at least 10 elderly people dead

At least 10 elderly people died early Sunday after a fire in a nursing home in the city of Treinta y Tres, in eastern Uruguay, according to local reports and The Associated Press.

“They carried out the rescue and evacuation of the 10 residents, who were assisted at the scene by medical personnel, but despite the efforts, 7 of them were dead due to smoke poisoning, while the other 3 residents were transferred in a state of seriously to the local hospital, where they did not resist,” reads a statement from the Treinta y Tres Fire Department.

One of the workers at the residence, 20 years old, managed to escape and, although she had no apparent injuries, she was in a state of “emotional distress,” the firefighters added.

When they were called to the scene, they found the main door closed and a wall, which made it difficult to access the main source of the fire.

Se declara duelo departamental.
El Gobierno Departamental de Treinta y Tres, en razón de la tragedia ocurrida en la madrugada de este domingo en nuestra ciudad, que costó la vida de 10 personas al incendiarse el lugar donde residían, ha resuelto declarar tres días de duelo. pic.twitter.com/Pr0yQduhZe

— Gobierno de Treinta y Tres (@comuna33) July 7, 2024

The government of Treinta y Tres, a town of about 25,000 inhabitants about 250 km from Montevideo, declared three days of mourning for the death of the elderly.

"The Departmental Government of Treinta y Tres, due to the tragedy that occurred in the early hours of this Sunday in our city, which cost the lives of 10 people when the place where they lived caught fire, has resolved to declare three days of mourning," said the government.

The news shocked the residents of this small city, of about 50,000 inhabitants, located in the department of the same name, one of the 19 in the country.

Authorities continue to investigate the origin of the fire.

Health Minister Karina Rando said it is possible that the fire occurred due to an accident and indicated that investigations are underway.