Deadly Fire at Manado Retirement Home

December 2025- On a tragic night in late December 2025, a fire broke out at the Werdha Damai retirement home in Manado, North Sulawesi. The blaze erupted while many elderly residents were asleep, resulting in 16 confirmed deaths and leaving several others hospitalized with serious injuries. Neighbors were among the first to alert authorities, and firefighters battled the blaze for over two hours. Officials believe an electrical fault may have caused the fire, but investigations are still ongoing.

The incident brought national attention to safety standards at care facilities and renewed discussions on improving emergency readiness in such environments.