Fire kills 10 elderly people in Spanish retirement home

At least 10 people have been killed after a fire broke out in a retirement home in the northern Spanish town of Villafranca de Ebro, authorities said.

The blaze started in one of the rooms, Fernando Beltrán, the national government's top official in the region, told reporters.

All the victims were elderly people living in the Jardines de Villafranca residence, a care home for people with mental health issues, Aragon regional president Jorge Azcón told reporters.

Mr Azcón said one person is in a critical condition and another is in a serious condition.

The fire started at around 5am (4am Irish time) and it took around two hours for firefighters to put it out, a spokesperson for the regional government said.

Firefighter chief Eduardo Sanchez told reporters the fire was contained to the room where it started and that the deaths were caused by smoke inhalation.

"The doors were closed, they prevented the fire from spreading," Mr Azcón said after visiting the building.

"The tragedy could have been worse," he added.

Several residents were treated, mainly for smoke inhalation, mayor Volga Ramirez said.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the fire.

Mr Azcón said the priority now was to transfer the residents who were not injured in the blaze to another care home in nearby Huesca.