16 Dead in Indonesian Retirement Home Fire

A fire tore through a retirement home in the Indonesian city of Manado late Sunday, killing 16 elderly residents and injuring three others, authorities reported Monday.

The blaze engulfed the single-story Werdha Damai facility in North Sulawesi province on the island of Sulawesi, where about 30 older adults lived. Police spokesperson Alamsyah Hasibuan confirmed the death toll at 16, noting that 15 victims died from burns while one body remained intact. Firefighters received the emergency call at 8:31 p.m. local time and deployed six trucks to battle the flames, which took more than two hours to extinguish. Many bodies were discovered inside individual rooms, as residents were likely resting or asleep when the fire began, according to Jimmy Rotinsulu, head of Manado's fire and rescue agency.

At least 12 residents were rescued unharmed by emergency responders and neighbors, while others received treatment for injuries at two local hospitals. Hasibuan said the bodies were transported to a medical facility for identification, with family members assisting in the process. Footage from the scene showed intense orange flames lighting up the night sky and thick smoke filling the air, as...