A deadly fire at a nursing home in Indonesia has killed at least 16 elderly residents, authorities said, in one of the country’s deadliest care-facility disasters in recent years. The blaze broke out late on Sunday night at the Werdha Damai nursing home in the city of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, while many of the residents were asleep in their rooms.
According to police and local emergency officials, the fire spread rapidly through the single-storey building, trapping several residents who were unable to escape due to limited mobility. Firefighters, assisted by local residents, worked for more than two hours to bring the flames under control. Several people were rescued and rushed to nearby hospitals, while others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation and burn injuries.
Authorities confirmed that 16 people died in the incident, most of them elderly residents who were found in their rooms after the fire was extinguished. The victims’ bodies were taken to Bhayangkara Hospital in Manado for identification, as families gathered outside the facility in distress. At least three survivors remain hospitalized, with doctors reporting that their conditions are stable.
Initial investigations suggest the fire may have originated in the kitchen area of the nursing home, although officials said the exact cause has not yet been determined. Police and fire investigators are continuing to examine the site to establish how the blaze started and why it spread so quickly. Questions have also been raised about fire safety measures at the facility, including emergency exits and alarm systems.
The tragedy has shocked the local community, with residents describing scenes of panic as flames engulfed the building and cries for help were heard from inside. Indonesian authorities said they would review safety standards at elderly care homes across the region to prevent similar incidents in the future, as the nation mourns the loss of lives in the Manado nursing home fire.
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