- Fire erupts at unlicensed Guanajuato addiction treatment facility with barred exits
- 2024 incident follows 3 similar fatal rehab center fires since 2020
- State records show 62% of Mexico's rehab centers lack safety certifications
Authorities confirmed 12 fatalities after flames engulfed a privately operated drug rehabilitation center in central Mexico's Guanajuato state early Tuesday. Witnesses reported hearing screams as the fire spread through a dormitory area where 34 patients slept, with security bars preventing swift evacuation. This marks the deadliest facility fire since 28 died at a Sonora rehab center in 2022.
Guanajuato's civil protection director revealed the building lacked functional smoke detectors and fire extinguishers - violations present in 78% of regional rehab facilities according to 2023 safety audits. The state leads Mexico in addiction treatment centers but ranks last in regulatory enforcement, with only 12 inspectors overseeing 217 registered facilities.
Industry experts highlight three critical safety gaps: overcrowded dormitories averaging 4 patients per bed, inadequate staff training (only 15% receive emergency response certification), and frequent use of makeshift buildings converted from residential homes. A 2022 study found rehab patients face 8x higher fire mortality risk compared to hospital patients due to mobility restrictions.
Regional case study: A 2020 fire at a Honduras rehab center killed 27 women under nearly identical circumstances - locked doors and flammable building materials. Central American addiction treatment networks share similar safety challenges, with 43% of facilities operating without government oversight according to OAS reports.
Mexican authorities have temporarily closed 14 Guanajuato rehab centers since January 2024, though advocates argue enforcement remains inconsistent. Families of victims are demanding criminal charges against facility operators and increased federal funding for addiction treatment infrastructure upgrades.