A devastating fire tore through a nursing home in northeastern Bosnia, claiming the lives of 11 people and injuring at least 30 others, local police confirmed on Wednesday, as investigators continued efforts to determine the cause of the tragedy.
Authorities said the death toll had risen overnight following the blaze at a residential care facility in the city of Tuzla, located approximately 80 kilometres (50 miles) northeast of the capital, Sarajevo. Thirty people remain hospitalised, including five firefighters and three police officers who were injured during rescue operations.
The fire reportedly broke out on the seventh floor of the multi-storey building in central Tuzla around 8:45 pm (1945 GMT) on Tuesday and took firefighters about an hour to bring under control. Local media outlets reported that many of the residents were elderly, bedridden, or seriously ill, which made evacuation efforts especially challenging.
Footage captured from the scene showed flames and thick smoke billowing from the upper windows of the building.
Resident Ruza Kajic recounted the terrifying moments to national broadcaster BHRT: “I had gone to bed when I heard a cracking sound. I don’t know if it was the windows in my room breaking. I looked out and saw burning debris falling from above. I ran out into the hallway. On the upper floors, there are bedridden people.”
Mirsad Bakalovic, the director of the nursing home, told the FENA news agency that he had offered his resignation in the wake of the incident. “It’s the only human thing to do — the least I can do in this tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of the victims,” said a visibly emotional Bakalovic. “Last night was truly difficult — a tragedy not only for Tuzla, but for the whole of Bosnia.”
Prosecutor’s office spokesman Admir Arnautovic confirmed that forensic teams were working to identify the victims and ascertain what caused the blaze. “The identification of the bodies will take place during the day,” he said.
Nermin Niksic, Prime Minister of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, described the fire as a “disaster of enormous proportions,” while Zeljko Komsic, chairman of the tripartite presidency, extended his condolences to the bereaved families.