Fire at nursing home in the US, dozens of casualties

Washington [US], July 15: Gabriel House nursing home in Massachusetts (USA) caught fire, killing 9 people and injuring more than 30.
CBS News reported on July 14 that 9 people were killed and more than 30 injured when a fire broke out at a nursing home in Fall River (Massachusetts , USA).
The fire broke out at Gabriel House, a senior living facility, at around 9:30 p.m. on July 13. Firefighters arrived to find heavy flames and smoke billowing through the main entrance, with several people clinging to the windows of the building as they waited to be rescued, Fall River Fire Department Chief Jeffrey Bacon said.
Speaking at a press conference after the incident, Mr. Bacon said more than 30 people at the facility were taken to hospital and five firefighters suffered minor injuries. In addition to the nine people who died, one person is in critical condition.
"There were some deaths in the building and some people died after being taken away," he said, calling the tragedy "unimaginable".
"We rescued at least 12 people via ladders. Police, fire and emergency services rescued many people," Mr Bacon said.
About 50 firefighters were called in, 30 of them off-duty, and every police officer in the city was on the scene, Bacon said.
The facility has 100 beds. Firefighters said about 70 people were living there before the fire. The city government has opened a temporary shelter for survivors.
Fall River is about 50 miles south of Boston . The cause of the incident is under investigation.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper