A devastating fire at a retirement home in Tuzla, Bosnia claimed 13 lives on Tuesday evening, November 4, 2025, with reports indicating about 30 people were injured in the blaze that engulfed the facility’s seventh floor.

The fire broke out at the retirement home located approximately 80 kilometers northeast of Sarajevo, sending flames and smoke through the building’s upper levels. According to sources, it took firefighters about an hour to bring the blaze under control. The cause of the fire remains unclear as investigators continue their work at the scene.

The facility’s upper floors housed immobile elderly people, making evacuation efforts particularly challenging. Among those injured were firefighters and rescue workers who responded to the emergency, according to Mayor Zijad Lugavic of Tuzla.

Ruza Kajic, a resident living on the third floor, described the terrifying moments when the fire began. “I had gone to bed when I heard a cracking sound. I don’t know if it was the windows in my room breaking,” she told national broadcaster BHRT on Wednesday. “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.”

Kajic reported hearing what she described as cracking or popping sounds before realizing the severity of the situation unfolding above her.

Prosecutor spokesperson Admir Arnautovic told reporters that investigators were working to determine what sparked the fire. “The identification of the bodies will take place during the day,” Arnautovic said, as authorities methodically processed the scene to identify those killed in the blaze.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, retirement home director Mirsad Bakalovic offered his resignation. He described the previous night as a truly difficult event and called it a tragedy not only for Tuzla but for all of Bosnia.

The fire represents one of the deadliest incidents at a care facility in Bosnia in recent years. The concentration of elderly residents with limited mobility on the building’s upper floors contributed to the difficulty of rescue operations and likely increased the casualty count.

Authorities held an emergency meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation and coordinate response efforts. Officials from across the government in Bosnia and Herzegovina offered their condolences and assistance to Tuzla authorities as the city grappled with the scale of the disaster.

The investigation into the fire’s origin continues, with authorities examining all potential causes. The identification process for victims remained ongoing as officials worked to notify families and provide closure to those who lost loved ones in the blaze.

As the community mourns, questions about fire safety protocols at elderly care facilities and the challenges of protecting vulnerable populations in multi-story buildings have come to the forefront. The Tuesday evening fire serves as a reminder of the particular risks faced by immobile residents in care facilities.

Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation to determine how the fire started and whether any safety measures could have prevented or mitigated the tragedy that unfolded on the retirement home’s seventh floor.