A fire broke out at an elderly care home in northern Indonesia, killing 16 people and injuring 3 others. Authorities are conducting an investigation to determine the cause.
Foreign news agencies reported a severe fire at the "Damai" elderly care home in Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi province, at approximately 20:30 local time on Sunday (28 Dec 2025 GMT+7), resulting in 16 deaths and 3 injuries.
Jimmy Rotinsulu, head of Manado's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, told AFP news agency that many bodies were found inside the rooms. He added that most victims were likely elderly residents resting during the evening when the fire started.
Authorities controlled the fire around 21:30 on Sunday, while police are investigating the cause and working to identify the deceased. Officials have urged relatives of missing persons to contact the hospital where the bodies have been taken.
A witness named Steven Mogodompit, who lives near the scene and was among those helping evacuate victims, revealed that the fire engulfed the entire building within just 5 minutes. He and others used tables and ladders stacked together to rescue people from the back of the house.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:BBC