Residential blaze in Mirandela's nursing home leaves six casualties behind.
Tragedy at Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela Nursing Home
A fire at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela nursing home in Portugal has claimed the lives of seven elderly residents and left 25 others injured. The fire, which started around 5:00 AM, has sent shockwaves through the community.
The fire originated from a short circuit in an electric anti-bedsore mattress in a room shared by three residents. Six residents initially lost their lives, three from burns and three from smoke inhalation. Another three residents died later due to smoke inhalation and respiratory problems.
The Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária) and the Public Prosecutor’s Office are actively investigating the incident, collecting evidence from the site. The Instituto da Segurança Social has also launched an investigation to oversee compliance with security plans and to support victims and their families.
In response to the tragedy, the city of Mirandela has declared three days of municipal mourning. The mayor, Victor Correia, stated that at 09:30, residents who were uninjured began to be transferred to other Misericórdia nursing homes. A psychological support and information center has been installed at the Mirandela INATEL pavilion to assist the affected families and community.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela is providing support to the families of the victims. The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Bragança is working closely with local authorities to ensure the accompaniment of residents and their families.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has expressed his solidarity with the families of the victims and is monitoring the situation. The commander of the Mirandela Volunteer Firefighters, Luís Soares, revealed that the rescue was complex due to the mobility issues and advanced dementia of the residents.
Assistance was requested from the fire departments of neighboring municipalities for the transportation of bedridden elderly individuals. The injured residents were taken to hospitals in Mirandela, Bragança, and Macedo de Cavaleiros, with five of the injuries being severe.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Bragança will monitor the investigation to determine the precise cause of the short circuit and the adherence to safety protocols. This coordinated investigation aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
In solidarity, many events organized by the municipality have been cancelled as part of the mourning declaration. The city continues to offer its condolences to the families of the victims and stands ready to support them during this difficult time.
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