LIMA, July 23, 2026 (AFP) - A fire in a low-income neighborhood of Lima killed 10 people and destroyed two homes, Peru's civil defense reported Wednesday.

Two more people were injured, the INDECI civil defense institute wrote in a social media post.

According to relatives, five of the deceased were adults, and the other five were children.

Among the dead were "nine members of one family, five of whom are minors," police chief Oscar Arriola confirmed.

An investigation "to determine the point of origin, the circumstances, and the causes of this fire" was underway, he told reporters.

Peruvian media reported that extortionists who were threatening local businesses started the fire.

Colonel John Lujan, who is heading up the investigation, said "a possible deliberate act or a case of extortion" is among the possible causes that is being explored.

Survivor Gina Vilchez told reporters she was able to save herself and her children by escaping the dwelling.

"There are 17 of us. Ten have died and seven of us were saved," she said, as other family members showed media photos and video of the desperate attempts to rescue those trapped by the flames.

Peru's president-elect Keiko Fujimori visited the ruins Wednesday, calling the deaths "a terrible massacre."

"What people are asking for is order and security, and that is the first thing we are going to do next week," Fujimori told press.