At least 16 people were killed after a devastating late-night fire tore through a senior living facility in Chile, leaving just 10 residents able to escape the flames.

The blaze broke out around 10:30 p.m. Friday at the El Edén senior living facility between Pitrufquén and Gorbea in Chile’s La Araucanía region.

Fire crews and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene as flames ripped through the building.

By early Saturday, authorities confirmed the horrifying death toll.

“Only 10 people living in the nursing home were evacuated,” General Miguel Herrera, head of the Araucanía Zone of the Carabineros, said.

“We must lament the death of 16 people, who are the ones who have been found by firefighters at this time.”

Those who survived were taken to Pitrufquén Hospital, including some who suffered injuries. A nearby school, Liceo La Frontera, was also turned into a temporary shelter for people affected by the disaster.

Officials have not yet publicly released the victims’ identities as authorities work to notify their families.

Investigators are now trying to determine exactly what sparked the deadly fire.

Chile’s Organized Crime and Homicide Team, known as ECOH, began examining the scene after firefighters brought the blaze under control. The Carabineros Criminalistics Laboratory and OS-9 personnel are also assisting with the investigation.

Prosecutors said approximately 26 adults were inside the facility when the fire started.

Officials also revealed that not everyone inside was elderly and that one nursing assistant was reportedly responsible for those staying at the home.

Authorities are now questioning people connected to the facility as they investigate not only the cause of the fire but also the conditions inside the building.

Prosecutors are also looking into whether El Edén had the proper permits needed to legally operate.

The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown as investigators continue combing through the charred facility and interviewing those involved.