In a heartbreaking incident late Sunday night, a fire ripped through Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, killing at least nine residents and injuring dozens more. Officials say the blaze broke out around 9:30 p.m. and rapidly engulfed parts of the building, which houses elderly and non-ambulatory individuals.

“Our heart goes out to all of the families… this is one of the worst tragedies our city has seen,” said Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan. Some of the deceased were still inside the facility by Monday morning as rescue efforts continued into daylight hours.

Survivors Recall Moments of Terror
Resident Lorraine Ferrara described waking up to smoke and sprinklers blasting hot water. She was rescued by a firefighter who broke through her window. “I really thought I was going to die,” she said.