Overnight fire engulfs Sulawesi nursing home as victims trapped in their rooms
A late-night fire at a retirement home in eastern Indonesia has turned deadly, exposing ongoing safety risks for vulnerable elderly residents across the country.
Fire Breaks Out as Residents Slept
A fire at the Werdha Damai nursing home in Manado, North Sulawesi, killed 16 people on Sunday night, Dec 29, according to Indonesian police. The blaze erupted in the single-storey facility while residents were asleep, leaving many trapped in their rooms as flames spread rapidly.
Death Toll and Survivors Confirmed
North Sulawesi police spokesperson Alamsyah Hasibuan confirmed that 15 victims were burned to death, while one body remained intact. Authorities also reported at least three people suffered burn injuries, while a total of 12 to 15 residents were evacuated alive and transferred to hospitals in Manado for treatment and observation.
Firefighters Battle Inferno for Hours
Manado fire and rescue chief Jimmy Rotinsulu said emergency crews received the first report at 8:31pm local time. Six fire trucks were deployed, and firefighters needed more than two hours to fully extinguish the blaze after nearby residents alerted emergency services.
Victims Found Inside Their Rooms
Many of the victims were discovered inside their bedrooms, suggesting they had little time to escape. Rotinsulu said most residents were likely resting when the fire broke out. Footage aired by Metro TV showed flames lighting up the night sky as locals attempted to help elderly residents flee the building.
Cause Still Under Investigation
While an initial police report suggested an electrical fault may have triggered the fire, authorities later clarified that the cause remains under investigation. The remains of the building were left filled with debris on Monday as forensic teams and families worked to identify the victims.
Part of a Broader Fire Safety Concern
Deadly fires are not uncommon in Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands. Earlier this month, a fire in a seven-storey office building in Jakarta killed at least 22 people. In 2023, an explosion at a nickel-processing plant in eastern Indonesia claimed at least 12 lives, highlighting persistent safety and infrastructure challenges.
The Manado nursing home fire underscores urgent concerns about fire safety standards, emergency preparedness, and elderly care facilities in Indonesia. For both Indonesians and Singaporeans, the tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of stricter safety enforcement, especially for vulnerable communities living in shared residential facilities.
Sources: Channel News Asia (2025) , Al Jazeera (2025)
Keywords: Indonesia Fire, Nursing Home Tragedy, Manado Blaze, Sulawesi Disaster
