Fire in nursing home in Serbia, eight dead, suspected to be arson

AUTHOR:M.J. GDNUS

Eight people were killed and seven injured in a fire at a nursing home in Veliki Bork in the Belgrade municipality of Barajevo.

The fire is suspected to have been arson, the relevant minister Nemanja Starović told RTS, adding that the home had all the necessary permits.

The fire has been extinguished, and a large number of firefighters and fire trucks participated in extinguishing it.

Eight people were killed, seven were injured and 13 were evacuated from the fire.

Firefighters, media representatives, forensic experts, as well as family members of the victims are in front of the nursing home where the fire broke out, reports N1 reporter.

Minister of Labor, Employment, Veterans and Social Affairs Nemanja Starović told RTS that, according to the first preliminary data, there are indications that the fire was arson.

As he added, the Ivanovic Nursing Home had a valid license and all the necessary fire safety conditions.

He pointed out that emergency accommodation had been provided for the evacuees.

Starovic expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

Luka Čaušić, acting head of the Emergency Situations Sector of the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs, previously told RTS that there were 30 users in the home.

Seven injured people, he said, were taken by the ambulance and transported to the Military Medical Academy and the Emergency Center.

According to him, after the report this morning at 3:32 a.m., units of the Emergency Situations Sector were immediately sent to the scene and found the fire in a blazing phase.

"We are still investigating whether there may be a residual source that could cause a further fire, and the cause will be determined in the coming hours," Čaušić said.

He added that the nursing home is located far from busy roads, but fire crews arrived quickly and the injured were treated in record time.

"This is a great tragedy, but it could have been much worse," Čaušić concluded.