Eleven residents have been confirmed dead following a devastating fire at a municipal nursing home in the Bosnian city of Tuzla, authorities said on Wednesday.
The city’s mayor, Zijad Lugavić, told local media that 35 others were taken to hospital, including three in critical condition. The blaze broke out overnight on the seventh floor of the nine-storey facility, which housed patients with advanced dementia and terminal illnesses.
Emergency services battled the flames for hours, with firefighters, police officers, and care workers among the injured.
Built in the 1980s during socialist Yugoslavia, the building is a well-known feature of the city’s skyline. However, it has long faced criticism for its poor living conditions, including damp, inadequate food, and staff misconduct.
Relatives and activists have accused city officials of ignoring years of complaints about safety and overcrowding. Critics say placing seriously ill residents on upper floors made evacuation almost impossible.
Earlier this year, the home’s management increased service fees by up to 30 per cent, prompting further backlash. Officials have launched an inquiry into the cause of the fire and the safety standards at the facility.
