A fire at a nursing home in northeastern Bosnia killed 11 people and injured at least 30, police said on Wednesday, as investigators continue to probe the cause of the blaze.
Police confirmed the death toll had risen overnight at the facility in Tuzla, a city about 80 kilometres northeast of Sarajevo, after the blaze erupted late Tuesday, with 30 people still in hospital.
Five firefighters and three police officers were among the injured.
The fire broke out on the seventh floor of the nursing home building in downtown Tuzla around 8:45pm (1945 GMT), and took an hour to be brought under control.
Local media reported that many of the residents were bedridden and sick.
Footage from the scene showed the flames pouring from windows on the upper floor of the nursing home building.
鈥業 had gone to bed when I heard a cracking sound. I don鈥檛 know if it was the windows in my room breaking,鈥� home resident Ruza Kajic told national broadcaster BHRT.
鈥業 live on the third floor I looked out the window and saw burning material falling from above. I ran out into the hallway. On the upper floors, there are bedridden people,鈥� she added.
Mirsad Bakalovic, the nursing home director, told the Fena news agency that he had offered his resignation after the fire.
鈥業t鈥檚 the only human thing to do, the least I can do in this tragedy. My heart goes out to the families of the victims,鈥� said a visibly emotional Bakalovic.
鈥楲ast night was a truly difficult event, a tragedy not only for the city of Tuzla, but for all of Bosnia.鈥�
Investigators were still working to determine the cause of the fire and identify those killed in the blaze, prosecutor spokesman Admir Arnautovic told reporters.
鈥楾he identification of the bodies will take place during the day,鈥� Arnautovic said.
Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina prime minister Nermin Niksic told BHRT the fire was a 鈥榙isaster of enormous proportions鈥�, while the chairman of the tripartite presidency Zeljko Komsic offered condolences to the families of the victims.
