Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 16, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleBosnian police detained two officials after a fire at a Tuzla retirement home killed 17 people. The fire was caused by a short circuit, and officials are accused of neglecting safety measures.
SARAJEVO, Dec 16 (Reuters) - Bosnian police on Tuesday 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 November 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.
(Reporting by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Ros Russell)
A retirement home is a residential facility designed for older adults, providing various levels of care and support, including assistance with daily living activities.
An investigation is a systematic inquiry or examination into a matter to uncover facts, gather evidence, and determine the truth about a situation.
Fire protection measures are strategies and systems implemented to prevent, control, and mitigate the effects of fire, ensuring safety and compliance with regulations.
A short circuit is an electrical fault that occurs when current flows along an unintended path, often leading to circuit damage, overheating, or fire.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
