Fire at retirement home in Bosnia leaves 11 dead and 35 injured

At least 11 people died in a fire at a retirement home in the northeastern Bosnian town of Tuzla on Tuesday.

Another 35 were among the injured when the fire erupted on the seventh floor of the building, with three people in critical condition, Euronews Bosnia reported.

FBiH entity Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić said the fire was "a disaster of enormous proportions," while Tuzla Canton Premier Irfan Halilagić told the domestic press that authorities were “now looking for where to accommodate the residents.”

Images from the scene showed a blaze on one of the facility’s floors as firefighters worked to evacuate the building and contain the blaze.

Željko Komšić, chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

The Republika Srpska entity Prime Minister Savo Minić said that his government is at the disposal of the citizens of Tuzla for any assistance following the tragedy at the retirement home.

"We feel the pain and are always ready to help. Our deepest condolences to the families," Minić wrote in a post on X.

While the cause of the fire remains unknown, Bosnian officials said an investigation will be carried out as soon as conditions are safe.