Zaragoza, Spain, Nov 15 (EFE).- At least ten people died and two are in critical condition in a fire that broke out early Friday at a retirement home near Zaragoza, the provincial capital of Aragon in northern Spain.
At the time of the fire, there were 82 people in the residence, located in the town of Villafranca de Ebro, according to the regional government of Aragon.
The casualties resulted from inhalation of smoke, and the two people in critical condition were admitted to the Royo Villanova Hospital in Zaragoza.
According to the Zaragoza authorities, when firefighters arrived at the scene they found the fire spreading in one of the wings of the residence and a large amount of smoke.
At least 25 firefighters were involved in putting out the fire and evacuating the elderly.
Besides firefighters, members of the Civil Guard, Civil Protection volunteers, psychologists, social workers and health care from the emergency services, as well as medical personnel from health centers in nearby towns, were deployed to the scene.
The retirement home where the fire broke out is on the outskirts of Villafranca de Ebro, a town of about 800 inhabitants about 30 kilometers from Zaragoza. EFE
mrl/sc
