Mexico offers compensation, scholarships to survivors of day-care fire that killed 49 children

Mexico offers aid to survivors of day-care fire

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government says it will provide university scholarships and free medical care to the children who survived a day-care center fire that killed 49 kids a year ago.

It says it will also provide free medical and psychological care to their parents, their teachers, and adults who survived the blaze in the northern city of Hermosillo last June. The government is also financially compensating families of the children who died.

The program was announced Tuesday, the same day Mexican President Felipe Calderon met with the children’s parents.

Mexican prosecutors have filed criminal charges against at least 23 people, including the center’s owners, but no one has been convicted. Seventy-five children and several adults were injured in the blaze.