Bosnian police detain 2 officials over deadly retirement home fire
A drone view of the building of a home for the elderly, after a fire, in the town of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nov 5, 2025.
PHOTO: Reuters file
PUBLISHED ONDecember 17, 2025 7:11 AM
SARAJEVO — Bosnian police on Tuesday (Dec 16) detained two officials over a deadly fire at a retirement home in the northeastern town of Tuzla that killed 17 people, prosecutors said.
The fire broke out on the evening of Nov 4 on the seventh floor of the building, where 180 elderly residents lived.
Ten people died during the night from breathing in fumes and seven more died in the following days. Dozens were hurt.
An initial investigation showed the fire was caused by a short circuit in the room of one of the residents.
Prosecutors allege the officials failed to provide fire protection measures, adequate staffing and security systems that could have sped up evacuation. Both were questioned as accomplices in committing grave criminal acts against public safety, the prosecutor's office said.
Further steps will be decided after questioning, it said.
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