A fire that broke out in a nursing home in northeastern Bosnia-Herzegovina killed 10 people and injured 20, local police said. The blaze started on Tuesday night at the retirement facility in the town of Tuzla, breaking out on the seventh floor shortly after 20:45 local time.
Around 20 people were sent to a medical centre for treatment, including firefighters, police officers, medical workers, employees, and residents of the home, a police spokesperson said. While the cause of the fire was not immediately clear, Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić called it 'a disaster of enormous proportions'.
According to preliminary information, 10 residents of the Tuzla retirement home lost their lives in the fire. Officials said a full investigation would be conducted as soon as conditions were safe. Chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, Željko Komšić, also offered condolences to the victims' families and the injured.
A resident of the nursing home, Ruza Kajic, reported that she was awakened by a 'cracking sound' and saw burning material falling from above while trying to escape. She mentioned that there were bed-ridden individuals trapped on the upper floors. Footage from the scene showed flames erupting from the windows of the facility.
Reports indicate that several patients were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at the Tuzla University clinical centre, with three in intensive care.
Around 20 people were sent to a medical centre for treatment, including firefighters, police officers, medical workers, employees, and residents of the home, a police spokesperson said. While the cause of the fire was not immediately clear, Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić called it 'a disaster of enormous proportions'.
According to preliminary information, 10 residents of the Tuzla retirement home lost their lives in the fire. Officials said a full investigation would be conducted as soon as conditions were safe. Chairman of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, Željko Komšić, also offered condolences to the victims' families and the injured.
A resident of the nursing home, Ruza Kajic, reported that she was awakened by a 'cracking sound' and saw burning material falling from above while trying to escape. She mentioned that there were bed-ridden individuals trapped on the upper floors. Footage from the scene showed flames erupting from the windows of the facility.
Reports indicate that several patients were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at the Tuzla University clinical centre, with three in intensive care.
