Two elderly people have died and four others remain in intensive care after a lift plunged from the second floor to the basement of a care home in Velez-Malaga.

An 82-year-old woman and a 91-year-old man were killed in the incident at the Seniors residence on Calle Alcalde Santiago Valle on Wednesday evening.

Judicial police and forensic officers inspected the premises on Thursday morning to establish what caused the lift to fall.

Six residents were trapped inside when emergency services were alerted shortly after 8.30pm. Firefighters rescued them before all six were taken to the Axarquia hospital.

The woman died on Wednesday, while the man died in the early hours of Thursday. The four surviving residents, aged between 68 and 91, remain in the hospital’s intensive care unit, according to Malaga’s health authorities.

The care home said the lift had capacity for 15 people and had passed its most recent inspection by an authorised inspection body.

It added that the building’s lift system had been completely replaced in 2023 and said it was cooperating fully with investigators.

Management said staff were ‘deeply shocked and affected by this tragedy’, offering condolences to the bereaved families and support to those injured.

Staff provided immediate assistance before emergency crews arrived, according to the home.

The 200-place residence, which provides publicly funded care through an agreement with the Junta de Andalucia, caters for people aged over 65 who need specialist support.

Management said it had adapted care arrangements and movement around the building to maintain services for other residents. Psychological support has also been made available to residents, relatives and staff.

The Policia Nacional is leading the investigation.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.