The fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday morning in a home for the elderly on the outskirts of the Serbian capital, Belgradetook the lives of eight people. Another seven people were injured, TASR informs, according to the report of the AFP agency.
The fire broke out at approximately 3:30 a.m. CET. At that time, according to police sources, there were approximately 30 people in the building.
The initial results of the investigation indicate that the fire was caused by one of the residents of the nursing home, police said. “It is suspected that the fire was caused by one of the residents, but the investigation will reveal all the details,” Luka Čaušič, who led the police operation, told AFP.
The fire visibly damaged a large part of the roof of the building, supplied by AFP. Fire crews and emergency services arrived at the scene. In particular, the quick intervention of the firefighters, despite the remoteness of the accident site in the Barajevo district, was later praised by Serbian officials.
“Unfortunately, eight people lost their lives in the fire,” confirmed by Labor Minister Nemanja Stavrović, who added that 13 people managed to evacuate, and expressed his condolences to the victims. The injured were taken to Belgrade hospitals.
Serbian media reported that resident of the home who allegedly caused the fire on purpose by setting fire to a mattress in his roomhad mental problems and died himself in the fire.
Meanwhile, the Blic.rs portal reported that in the case, an autopsy was ordered on the victims and the police detained three people, allegedly the owners of the home. In connection with the tragic fire, a day of mourning was declared in the country on Wednesday.
