Six elderly individuals perished and 25 others sustained injuries, with five in critical condition, following a fire that broke out in a room at the Lar Bom Samaritano, run by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela.
From the incident to reactions, including the Police Judiciary’s investigation, here is what is known:
The alarm was raised by three staff members around 5 a.m., and according to the institution’s provider, Adérito Gomes, the fire is believed to have started on a “pressure ulcer mattress” in a room with three residents. The six fatalities include the three seniors from the room and three others who succumbed to smoke inhalation.
The commander of the Mirandela Volunteer Firefighters, Luís Carlos Soares, revealed to RTP3 that there are also “five people with severe injuries and 20 with minor injuries”, who have been transported to hospitals in Mirandela, Macedo de Cavaleiros, and Bragança.
The causes of the fire are under investigation, and the incident is now under the jurisdiction of the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), which has collected evidence at the care home.
According to the Bragança District Command of the PSP, the force addressed the occurrence upon arrival, but due to the casualties and injuries, the case was referred to the PJ and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Alarm at Mirandela care home did not activate. Smoke spread in “20 seconds”
It is currently known that the care home’s smoke alarm did not activate when the fire broke out. Adérito Gomes informed Lusa that the alarm did not sound based on what the staff reported but assured that the fire extinguishers were operational and were serviced within the required times.
Gomes further stated that surveillance footage, which has been reviewed, showed that the staff conducted a round 10 minutes before smoke began “emerging from beneath the door of the room” where three residents eventually died.
Within a span of “20 seconds”, according to Adérito Gomes, the corridor was completely filled with smoke, prompting staff to call for help.
Paulo Pereira, who lives a few meters from the care home and was the first to assist, saving three people, described that he attempted to extinguish the fire with extinguishers, but, out of the three he grabbed, “only one worked”.
Some hours after the fire, around 9:30 a.m., the unharmed residents of the care home began being relocated to other facilities of Misericórdia. A total of 89 seniors resided in the home.
The municipality of Mirandela also provided psychological and logistical support to the families of the residents, directing them to the Victim Support Center set up in the INATEL pavilion.
Marcelo and Montenegro offer “heartfelt condolences” for “tragic” fire
The President, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, expressed “heartfelt condolences” to the families of the victims of the “tragic” fire.
In a note published this morning on the Presidency’s website, it is stated that Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa contacted the provider of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela, offering “the most heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the tragic fire.”
The President also expressed “support and empathy towards the injured seniors, hoping for their speedy recovery, and extending solidarity in this time of mourning”.
The Prime Minister shared, on social media platform X, that he received the “tragic news” with “much consternation.”
“I extend heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes for a swift recovery to all the injured. I also greatly appreciate the efforts of everyone who prevented the incident from escalating further”, he wrote.
Recebi com muita consternação a trágica notícia do incêndio no lar da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela. Deixo sentidas condolências aos familiares das vítimas mortais e votos de rápida recuperação a todos os feridos. Agradeço também o grande trabalho de todos os que…
— Luís Montenegro (@LMontenegro_PT) August 16, 2025
In response to the incident, Mirandela City Council declared three days of municipal mourning, “cancelling all direct and shared events hosted by the council”.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mirandela also expressed solidarity and stated it is “providing all necessary support to the victims’ families”.
