A fire that broke out at an orthopedic clinic in Fukuoka City on Oct. 11 and claimed 10 lives should serve as a warning that similar tragedies could easily strike other medical and nursing care facilities across the country. The central and local governments must strengthen regulations governing fire-prevention equipment at such facilities.

The blaze started around 2:20 a.m. in the four-story clinic, about 1 km southwest of JR Hakata station, and killed eight inpatients aged 70 to 89 as well as the 80-year-old former director of the clinic and his 72-year-old wife. It is believed that they died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to smoke inhalation.

While in the past the clinic had informed the Hakata Fire Department that three staff members would be on night duty, on the night of the fire only one nurse was working.