A fire in a retirement home in a city on the east coast of the United States caused the death of nine and injured at least 30 others, local authorities said on Monday.
“Nine people lost their lives in the building last night. One person is in critical state and we transported at least 30 people “to the hospital, told the press Jeffrey Bacon, Fall River firefighters, city located in Massachusetts (northeast) on Monday.
“We are there to save lives, and each time there is even a death, it is for us a tragedy, the feeling of a failure, even if we know that forces escape our control,” added the leader of the firefighters of this city just under 100,000 inhabitants.
“It is an unimaginable tragedy for families and the population of Fall River,” said Bacon.
The firefighters went to the local retirement home Gabriel House Sunday evening around 9:50 pm (Monday 01:30 GMT) and saw “thick smoke and flames at the front of the building with occupants trapped inside,” local authorities said in a press release.
About 70 people resided at the Gabriel House retirement home and some 50 firefighters were mobilized against the flames.
In a press conference, the chief of the firefighters said that some residents had perished on the spot.
“We have managed to rescue at least a dozen residents thanks to the scales (firefighters),” he added while local media showed residents extirpated places from civilians and sides from the charred residence.
In addition, “five firefighters were transported (at the hospital) for injuries that did not put their lives in danger,” said local authorities.
The origins of the fire remain unknown but an investigation has been opened, said the Governor of Massachusetts, Maura Healey.
“An in -depth investigation is already underway. I know that the inhabitants of Fall River are strong and resilient. We must support each other in the face of this terrible tragedy, “she wrote on X by praising the” heroic “work of local firefighters.
