At least 11 individuals lost their lives in a tragic fire at a retirement home complex, with witnesses recounting the horror of flames engulfing the upper levels of the structure.
The blaze erupted on the seventh floor of the building in Tuzla, Bosnia, around 8:45 pm yesterday, resulting in over 30 people sustaining injuries.
Describing the incident as a “disaster of enormous proportions,” Bosnia’s Muslim-Croat entity Prime Minister, Nermin Niksic, expressed deep concern over the catastrophe.
Video recordings from the site captured flames surging from the upper windows of the building. Authorities plan to commence victim identification today and will initiate a fire cause investigation once conditions permit, according to police statements.
A resident named Ruza Kajic, residing on the third floor, recalled being awakened by a loud cracking noise. She witnessed burning debris falling from above and rushed into the hallway, where she observed bedridden individuals on the upper levels.
The retirement home issued a statement affirming that all necessary measures are being taken to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
Reports from local media indicate that several patients are receiving treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning, with three individuals in critical condition at the Tuzla University clinical center.
Expressing sympathy, Savo Minic, Prime Minister of the Serb Republic, conveyed readiness to provide assistance in the wake of the disaster.
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