A fire has broken out at a retirement home in northern Spain, killing at least 10 people.
The regional government of Aragon confirmed the incident took place in the town of Villafranca del Ebro, around 22 miles away from the city of Zaragoza.
The blaze started in a residence for elderly called "Jardines de Villafranca" around 5am local time and it took a couple of hours for firefighters to put it out, a spokesman for the regional government said.
The spokesman could not specify whether all the victims were residents of the retirement home, where 82 elderly people lived.
Emergency services at the scene in Northern Spain
Forto via Reuters
The incident took place in a home in the town of Villafranca del Ebro
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One person was in a critical condition, while several people are under care, mainly for suffering from smoke inhalation.
Firefighters, who came from the area of Zaragoza ambulances and police are on site, a spokesperson said.
The cause of the fire was still being investigated.
The Spanish government's delegate in Aragón region, Fernando Beltrán, paid his condolences to the victims and said they would continue to monitor the progress of those in hospital and the investigation into the cause of the fire.
Emergency services remain at the scene in northern Spain
Forto via Reuters
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a statement on social media: "Shocked by the tragedy that occurred this morning in a nursing home in Zaragoza.
"I have just spoken with the President of Aragon to convey all my love and condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased, to the workers of the center and to all the Aragonese.
"I hope that those who are in serious condition recover as soon as possible."
Nine years ago a fatal fire left nine people dead at another retirement home in the Zaragoza area.
Mayor of the region Volga Ramírez told local media that the tragedy may have been caused by a mattress on fire in one of the rooms.
Witnesses said there was little fire damage to the single-storey building and smoke inhalation is being blamed for the large number of fatalities.
One said: "My husband went in to get people out. You couldn't even breathe because of the smoke."
