At least 11 people have been killed and more than 30 injured after a massive fire broke out at a retirement home in the northern Bosnian city of Tuzla on Tuesday evening, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

The fire erupted around 7:45 p.m. GMT on the seventh floor of a nine-storey building housing elderly residents. Thick smoke and flames quickly spread through the upper floors, trapping many inside before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control.

Local officials said many of the victims were elderly residents with disabilities or limited mobility, making evacuation efforts difficult. Emergency crews managed to rescue dozens of people from the upper floors, while several of the injured remain in critical condition at local hospitals.

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

Tuzla police confirmed that the process of identifying the victims has begun and that investigators will examine the site once safety conditions allow. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, but an electrical fault is being considered among the possible factors.

The government of the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, expressed condolences and offered assistance to Tuzla. “We feel the pain and are always ready to help,” said RS Prime Minister Savo Minić in a post on X.

The incident has prompted renewed concerns over fire safety standards in care facilities across Bosnia, where aging infrastructure and outdated equipment have been cited as ongoing risks.

Authorities have declared a day of mourning in Tuzla to honor the victims of the tragedy. (ILKHA)