Zaragoza fire: Horror as huge inferno rips through care home killing ten people

A huge fire broke out at a retirement home in Villafranca de Ebro near the northern city of Zaragoza in Spain at around 5am this morning. At least 10 people have been killed

At least ten people have been killed and one has been left critically injured in a fire at a retirement home in Spain.

The blaze broke out at around 5am this morning at the residence in Villafranca de Ebro near the northern city of Zaragoza. More than 80 people were inside at the time, regional governors have said.

The retirement home has been named locally as Jardines de Villafranca. Firefighters are still at the scene alongside police, Civil Protection and social workers and paramedics. The blaze has been put out but it is not yet clear why it started.

Jardines de Villafranca, which opened in 2008, is specialised in dementia and mental health. Staff members include doctors and nurses as well as occupational therapists and social workers. Residents can also access a hair salon once a week.

The care home's website reads: "At the beginning of our career, in 2008, we started working with the elderly, but little by little space was given to residents with mental health problems and so we have also specialized in this field. We work with the aim of caring for people in a family environment, adapting to the needs of each person.

"We encourage and maintain the autonomy and well-being of the resident as far as possible. Our centre has places agreed with the government of Aragon."

Unconfirmed local reports say the blaze is believed to have started in one of the rooms at the single-storey building after a mayoress caught fire.

Villafranca de Ebro’s mayoress Volga Ramirez Gamiz said this morning two people were critical in hospital. It is not yet clear if all the victims are residents or include workers.

A regional government spokesman confirmed 82 people were inside when the blaze started.

Although it opened in 2008 as a dedicated OAP retirement home, Jardines de Villafranca now specialises in working with people who have mental health problems.

Its official website says: “At the beginning of our journey, in 2008, we started working with elderly people, but gradually we began to accommodate residents with mental health issues, and thus we have also specialised in this field.

“We work with the goal of caring for people in a family environment, adapting to the needs of each individual. We promote and maintain, as much as possible, the autonomy and well-being of the resident.”

Most of the victims in this morning’s fire are believed to have died from smoke inhalation.