A fire that broke out at a drug rehabilitation facility in central Mexico has resulted in the deaths of 12 people and left several others injured, according to the Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office on Sunday.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the blaze, but investigations are underway.
Drug cartels, which are active in the region, have a history of targeting rehab centres, often attacking or coercing patients into joining their ranks.
In a statement, the prosecutor’s office said that forensic teams were collecting evidence and interviewing witnesses to determine what led to the tragic incident.
This is not the first time a rehab facility has been the site of violence. In April, gunmen stormed a clinic in Sinaloa—another cartel-ridden state—killing at least nine people. Officials suspect such attacks are carried out against those who resist recruitment by criminal groups.
Since 2006, Mexico has witnessed a staggering toll from cartel violence, with approximately 480,000 people killed and an estimated 120,000 reported missing, according to government data.
