A fire at a nursing home in Indonesia killed 16 people in Sulawesi
A tragic incident has shaken the local community in Manado, a city on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, where at least 16 people lost their lives in a massive fire at the Werda Damai nursing home. The disaster occurred during the night, complicating evacuation and rescue efforts and transforming what was meant to be a safe haven for the elderly into a scene of flames and smoke.
In a press conference detailing the incident, the police chief of Manado, Indonesia, stated that the fire broke out suddenly in the residence. He added that security authorities and criminal investigation teams were still working at the site to determine the exact cause of the blaze. Initial reports indicated that approximately 30 people were inside the building when the fire started, suggesting a very high number of casualties relative to the number of residents.
Television footage circulated by local and international media outlets documented horrific scenes of flames engulfing the nursing home in the darkness, while local residents and emergency crews struggled to help elderly people escape the burning building. Although firefighters were later able to control and extinguish the blaze, the human toll was devastating.
Safety and fire record in Indonesia
This incident has once again highlighted the challenges of public safety in Indonesia, the vast archipelago of thousands of islands. The country frequently experiences fatal fires in public buildings and densely populated residential areas. Experts often attribute the recurrence of such incidents to aging electrical infrastructure, lax adherence to fire safety standards in some older buildings, and the use of potentially flammable building materials in certain areas.
Challenges of evacuating vulnerable groups
This tragic incident highlights the significant challenges associated with emergency plans in facilities caring for vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly. Evacuating nursing homes requires special procedures and extreme speed due to residents' limited mobility and their need for direct assistance with walking or movement. This disaster raises urgent questions about the preparedness of such facilities, including early warning systems and emergency exits adapted for wheelchairs and medical beds, to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated in the future.
Indonesian authorities are continuing to conduct extensive investigations to determine whether any negligence caused the incident, amid popular demands for a review of safety procedures in all care homes and hospitals in the region to ensure the safety of their residents.
