In brief
A blizzard of flames tore through the La Victoria neighbourhood in Lima, killing ten members of a single family, including five children. Police suspect arson after threats and extortion demands were reported. The family ran a mattress‑making workshop and owned electric motorcycles, and flames ignited near parked motorcycles. Twelve were on the premises; seven escaped, but ten bodies were found burned beyond recognition.
A fire has killed 10 members of the same family, including five children, at a home in Peru's capital Lima, police say.
The blaze ruptured the property in the southern La Victoria district early on Wednesday, an official from the National Police, Gen Oscar Arriola, told local media.
Five children aged between three and 15, four adults aged 29 to 72, and a fifth whose age was not given were reported dead. Two others were injured.
Police are investigating claims that arsonists started the fire. A local report claims the family, who manufactured mattresses and owned electric motorcycles, had received threats and extortion requests before the incident.
Neighbors said unknown firefighters torched motorcycles parked outside, igniting the flammable mattress‑making materials. Report by the government news agency Andina confirms this account.
At 03:00 local time (08:00 GMT) seventeen family members were inside the building; seven managed to escape, the Infobae news site records.
The children’s ages were 3, 6, 6, 8 and 15; the adults were aged 29, 35, 42 and 72. The bodies were burned beyond recognition, said Arriola.
"Today, all of Peru falls silent in the face of a tragedy that plunges our nation into mourning," a statement from the National Police of Peru said.
