A devastating fire broke out at a nursing home near Belgrade in the early hours of Monday, leaving eight people dead and seven others injured, according to Serbian state TV, RTS. Authorities have confirmed that the fire, which erupted at around 3:30 a.m. (0230 GMT), is believed to have been caused by arson.
Luka Causevic, head of the government’s department for emergency situations, reported that 30 people were present in the home when the fire started. Emergency services responded swiftly, extinguishing the blaze and evacuating the injured to hospitals in Belgrade. Among the injured, one woman is in critical condition and currently on a ventilator, RTS said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire was caused by one of the nursing home residents, who is among those who died in the incident. The prosecutors’ office has confirmed criminal activity as the likely cause and plans to release a detailed statement later in the day.
“There are indications that this tragedy was caused by criminal activity of one individual,” said Nemanja Starovic, the Minister for Labour, Employment, and Social Issues, during an interview with RTS.
The incident has prompted calls for increased scrutiny of safety protocols and oversight in care facilities across Serbia. Authorities have vowed to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy and take appropriate measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Melissa Enoch
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