Horror as 10 family members including five children killed in house blaze

Ten members of a single family, including five children, have perished after a catastrophic fire engulfed their residence in Peru’s capital. The inferno erupted at approximately 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday at a home in Lima’s La Victoria district, local media outlets reported.

Peruvian National Police Commander General Oscar Arriola confirmed the deceased included five minors, including one aged three, two aged six, one aged eight, and one aged 15, alongside five adults aged 29, 35, 42, and 72. Approximately 17 individuals were present in the residence when the fire ignited, but only seven successfully escaped, Infobae news agency reported.

The police chief stated the victims’ remains were charred beyond recognition.

Authorities are examining whether the fire was intentionally set after residents reported unidentified individuals torched electric motorcycles outside the residence.

The blaze spread quickly after igniting highly combustible materials the family utilized in their mattress production operation, hampering escape efforts for those trapped inside, Peru’s news agency Andina reported, according to The Express.

Local residents stated the family also possessed electric motorcycles and had purportedly been receiving threats and extortion demands for approximately one month prior to the fire.

The Peruvian National Police’s Fire Investigation Department is collaborating with forensic specialists to determine the fire’s origin, spread pattern, and underlying cause.

The alleged arson claims remain under active investigation by police and prosecutors. Family members also indicated that surveillance footage from a residence across the street could assist investigators in determining the fire’s origin and whether it was deliberately started.

The location remains sealed off as forensic specialists continue analyzing the scene to identify the victims and determine the cause of the fire.

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.”

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