Six elderly people killed in retirement home fire in Mexican city of Tijuana

Source: Xinhua| 2017-10-28 05:54:42|Editor: yan
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MEXICO CITY, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- A fire broke out in a retirement home early Friday morning in the Mexican city of Tijuana, leaving six people dead and two injured, according to a police report.

The official report said the blaze began at the El Refugio retirement home, at 1:52 am local time, with three men and three women dying, ranging in age from 63 to 78.

Firefighters rushed to the scene, with the fire having begun in the home's medical area. Local news reports said the blaze was sparked by one of the residents setting fire to their mattress with a lighter.

Two men died from their burns, while the other four died of smoke inhalation, said the Tijuana police.

However, emergency teams pulled out two men, who were taken to the Tijuana General Hospital after being revived by the paramedics.

Around 100 people were evacuated from the retirement home, which had been in operation for over 15 years and was run by a non-profit organization.

The director of the retirement home, Jesus Mondragon, told the press that the man who started the fire had only been in the home for two days after attempting to commit suicide by jumping off a building.

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