A fire declared on the night of Friday in a residence for elderly people located in Comuy, in the commune of Pitrufquén, La Araucanía region, in southern Chile, has left a balance of 16 deceased. The center, which operated without the required authorizations by the regulations, housed a group of elderly people, of which ten managed to survive the disaster.
The Ministry of Social Development and Family has confirmed this Saturday that the facility did not have permission to operate. "The Ministry will closely follow the investigation of the Prosecutor's Office and will evaluate the actions that correspond within its powers," pointed out the agency, which has made itself available for the ongoing investigations.
The Minister of Social Development and Family, María Jesús Wulf, has detailed that a battery of support will be articulated for the survivors, who will be transferred to Long-Stay Facilities for the Elderly that have the proper authorization and "adequate conditions." The goal is to guarantee their safety and continuity in care.
For his part, the Chilean president, José Antonio Kast, has expressed his sorrow for what happened. "The tragedy of Pitrufquén is devastating and forces us to act quickly, decisively, and responsibly," stated the president, who has demanded immediate responses and measures.
In this line, Kast has ordered that "urgent measures be adopted aimed at reviewing the conditions of the homes in our country, strengthening prevention and oversight, and accelerating the necessary proposals to improve their operation and safety." The Executive thus intends to reinforce controls over this type of facility.
Regarding possible responsibilities, the president has emphasized that "we need to know the truth and, on that basis, correct what is necessary to do everything possible to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again." The conclusions of the investigation will be key to defining regulatory changes and potential sanctions.