In the early hours of Friday in Milan, a fire broke out at a retirement home, resulting in the death of six people. The fire brigade reported that several residents were also hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. The three-story building, which housed 167 individuals, witnessed the tragic incident. The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time.
Firefighters acted swiftly to evacuate the building and managed to save numerous individuals. An AFP photographer witnessed the removal of two victims’ bodies from the scene. The area outside the retirement home was filled with over 10 ambulances, various fire trucks, and a mortuary van.
According to Milan’s fire chief, Nicola Micele, around 80 people were rushed to the hospital, with two individuals in critical condition. Reports from Italian media indicated that 14 others were in serious condition. The victims included five women aged between 69 and 87, as well as a 73-year-old man.
Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala revealed that the fire originated in a room occupied by two female residents, both of whom tragically lost their lives. Although the fire did not spread to neighboring rooms, the smoke proved to be fatal for the other four victims who succumbed to smoke inhalation.
A member of the staff discovered the fire and promptly alerted others at 1:20 am. Fire chief Micele stated that the staff noticed the smoke and immediately raised the alarm. Four teams of firefighters were dispatched and faced challenging conditions, including low visibility and flames in one room.
The primary focus of the firefighters was to extinguish the flames and evacuate the residents. The evacuation process was complicated due to the smoke, and some individuals were unable to walk. The mayor mentioned that residents had to be carried out one by one during the evacuation.
In response to the incident, the local council is working to swiftly relocate the affected residents to other suitable retirement homes. The retirement home, known as “Casa per Coniugi,” is privately-run and provides assistance to individuals who are not self-sufficient but do not require hospital care.
