At least 16 elderly residents have died in a fire at a nursing home in Chile, according to local authorities. The blaze occurred at El Edén, a facility located approximately 640 kilometers (400 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, on Friday evening. Ten other residents were evacuated from the facility, which is designed to provide care for older adults who may require assistance with daily living activities. The fire, which began around 10:30 PM local time, was extinguished by early Saturday morning. Firefighters continued to work on Saturday, clearing debris and removing collapsed metal roofing, while police secured the area to ensure public safety. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to Jorge Granada, a prosecutor handling the case. At this stage, no definitive explanation has been provided. In response to the tragedy, Chile’s President José Antonio Kast announced that he had ordered a review of the condition and safety standards of nursing homes nationwide. “We will fully collaborate with the justice system to clarify what happened, determine where failures may have existed in oversight or prevention, and identify what alerts were raised and what actions were taken in response to them,” Kast said. He emphasized the need to uncover the truth and implement necessary changes to prevent such a disaster from occurring again. Local officials expressed deep sorrow over the incident. Jacqueline Romero, the mayor of the area, said the tragedy has left the community “filled with great sorrow and pain.” She added that local authorities have been providing support to the families of the victims. The incident has sparked concern about the safety and regulation of long-term care facilities in Chile, with calls for increased oversight and improved emergency preparedness measures.