Four-Year-Old Child Dies in Potosí House Fire, Mother Apprehended

UYUNI, POTOSÍ – A devastating fire in Uyuni, Potosí, claimed the life of a 4-year-old child in the early hours of Tuesday. The child was found carbonized in a room of the residence that was consumed by flames. According to preliminary reports from the Special Force to Combat Crime (FELCC) in Uyuni, police and the prosecutor on duty arrived at the scene to find the child's mother with alcohol on her breath. She was immediately apprehended for investigative purposes. Colonel Carlos Santander, Commander of the Uyuni Border Police, stated, "There was a fire on 15th and Cabrera Street. Personnel from radio patrols responded, and there was a house emitting a lot of smoke. Together with neighbors, efforts were made to extinguish the fire, but there was no water in the area at dawn. With what was available, we managed to contain it and enter the home. Unfortunately, a minor of approximately 4 years of age was found completely calcined in this room, which was completely consumed where the fire occurred." He added, "Unfortunately, the mother had gone out to drink and arrived only moments before to see her minor child. She is currently detained to be brought before the prosecutor for appropriate action." The fire caused significant damage to the room where the child was sleeping. Personnel from the Public Defender's Office successfully rescued two other children who were sleeping in a different room. Police are currently investigating the case, with the initial presumption that a short circuit may have caused the blaze.