At Least 11 Killed in ‘Disaster’ Nursing Home Fire with Many ‘Bedridden People’ Among the Victims

At least 11 people have died and more than 30 others have been injured after a devastating fire broke out at a nursing home in Bosnia.

Authorities reported that the blaze began on the eighth floor of a building in Tuzla just after 8:45 p.m. local time on Tuesday, Nov. 4, according to the BBC, The Independent, and Reuters. Smoke and flames quickly spread to the upper levels of the still-unnamed facility, though the cause of the fire remains under investigation.

A police spokesperson told the BBC that firefighters, police officers, nursing home employees, medical professionals, and residents were among approximately 20 people receiving treatment for injuries.

Local media cited by Reuters said many of those who lost their lives had disabilities. Survivors were assisted by medical teams and moved to lower floors during the rescue efforts. The Independent reported that elderly residents with mobility issues and chronic illnesses were located on the higher levels of the building.

Once the site is deemed safe, authorities plan to conduct a full investigation and begin identifying victims, Reuters added.

Resident Ruza Kajic, who lived on the third floor, told local broadcaster BHRT she woke up to a “cracking sound.” “I looked out the window and saw burning material falling from above. I ran into the hallway. On the upper floors, there are bedridden people,” she said, according to the BBC.

Another witness told radiosavajevo.ba, “Someone is to blame for this. All sorts of things are allowed to happen in the retirement home; people don’t follow the rules. It’s a sad thing — people were burning… and the police will find out who caused the fire, who is to blame.”

One resident’s relative said, “My father was in the home, he was on the 6th floor… I have no information whether he was injured or not.”

In a statement to Reuters, the retirement home said, “Authorities are taking all necessary actions to shed light on the conditions that caused this tragic event.”

Bosnian Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić described the tragedy as “a disaster of enormous proportions,” according to the BBC. He later shared a photo of the building on X, captioned “Tuzla” along with the date of the fire.