Local officials said on Monday that 9 residents were killed and some 30 others were injured when a care home facility caught fire in the US state of Massachusetts.
The incident occurred at 9:50 pm on Sunday at 9:50 pm in the Gabriel House facility in the Fall River community on the local time (02:50 UTC/GMT), about 50 miles (80 km) south of the city of Boston.
The Fall River is one of the poorest cities in the state with some 94,000 residents.
Officials said on Monday that the flames and smoke spread by spreading, in which the residents are trapped inside, some of which were taken out of the windows and shouting for help.
The cause of the fire is not yet known
The city opened a temporary shelter to assist the living residential.
Some 50 firefighters responded to the spot, including 30 who were off-duty. They met with heavy smoke and flames in the front part of the building.
Officers had to break the doors to save a dozen residents. Five firefighters were injured during the operation.
Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Beckon said, “It is a unfathomable tragedy for the families and Fall River Community.”
The origin and cause of the fire is unknown and is now being investigated.
A facility for lower income seniors
According to the aging and independence of the Executive Office of Massachusetts, Gabriel House was opened in 1999 and has 100 units.
This feature promotes the “studio apartments for those seniors”, which, according to the website, cannot tolerate the high end of a aided life “.
It is located within the running of shopping, restaurants and churches.
The facility owner Dennis Etzcorn did not comment on the fire, but according to officials, he is co -related with investigation.
Massachusetts Governor Maurya Hail has offered state assistance to Fall River Community and expressed condolences to the families of those who died, who first respond to their work.
“Right now, the first order of business is to ensure that we are possible in every way of the city, which is a weak population, it is possible to resume it,” Hele said. He said, “All these people need help. As you saw, many were in wheelchairs, many were immobiles, many had oxygen tanks,” he said.
Edited by: Keran Burke
