L’ISLE VERTE, Quebec, Canada — As many as 10 people died and 22 were unaccounted for in a fire that destroyed nursing home here on Thursday.
At least 52 people were living at the retirement complex when the blaze broke out during the early morning. At least 37 of those individuals were older than 85, CNN reports.
Due to the frigid temperatures made search efforts difficult for firefighters, as water used to fight the flames froze
It is unclear what started the fire although authorities believe a lit cigarette was possibly the cause.
The incident has prompted many to demand that the Quebec government require homes for the elderly to be equipped with fire sprinklers. AS it stands, only part of the three-story retirement home had a sprinkler system, The Guardian reports.
