Ten members of the same family, including five children, have died after a fire tore through their home in Lima, Peru. The blaze broke out at around 3am local time on Wednesday in the La Victoria district.
Victims and escape
Peruvian National Police Commander General Oscar Arriola said the victims included five children aged three, six, six, eight and 15, along with five adults aged 29, 35, 42 and 72. Seventeen people were inside the property when the fire broke out but only seven managed to escape, according to Infobae news agency. The police chief said the victims' bodies were burned beyond recognition.
Suspected arson
Police are investigating whether the fire was deliberately started after neighbours claimed unknown individuals set electric motorcycles alight outside the property. The flames spread rapidly after igniting highly flammable materials used by the family in their mattress manufacturing business, making it difficult for those inside to escape, as reported by Peru news agency Andina.
Threats and investigation
Neighbours said the family also owned electric motorcycles and had allegedly been receiving threats and demands for extortion payments for around a month before the blaze. The Peruvian National Police's Fire Investigation Department is working alongside forensic experts to establish where the blaze started, how it spread and what caused it. The suspected arson claims remain under investigation by police and prosecutors.
Scene and evidence
Relatives also said security camera footage from a home opposite the property could help investigators determine how the fire started and whether it was intentionally set. The area remains cordoned off while forensic experts continue examining the scene to identify the victims and establish the cause of the blaze. In a statement, Peru's National Police said: "Today, all of Peru falls silent in the face of a tragedy that plunges our nation into mourning."
