Bosnia retirement home fire kills 11, injures dozens

At least 11 people have died and about 30 others have been injured in a fire at a retirement home in northeastern Bosnia, according to officials.

After it started to burn on Tuesday evening, the seventh floor of the building in Tuzla, which is located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Sarajevo, was completely covered in flames.

The fire erupted into flames and smoke in the night sky after taking about an hour to contain.

According to Bosnian media reports, elderly people who couldn’t move on their own or were ill were using the higher floors of the complex.

When I woke up in the morning, I overheard a cracking noise. Ruza Kajic, a resident of my room, told BHRT on Wednesday that she doesn’t know if the windows in her room are breaking.

She said, “I live on the third floor.” “I saw burning material falling from the top,” I said as I looked out the window. I scurried into the hallway. There are bedridden people on the upper floors.

The elderly and helpless people were seen standing outside the building, according to Admir Vojnic, who lives close to the retirement home.

According to prosecutor spokesman Admir Arnautovic, investigators were still trying to identify the victims of the fire and find the cause of the fire.

According to Arnautovic, “the bodies will be identified during the day.”

The director of the retirement community later admitted to having submitted an offer of resignation.

The least I can do in this tragedy is do it because it is the only human thing I can do. Mirsad Bakalovic told the news agency, “My heart goes out to the victims’ families.”

“Last night was a truly difficult event, a tragedy for Bosnia as well as the city of Tuzla,” he said.

The Tuzla authorities received condolences and assistance from all levels of government in Bosnia and Herzegovina.