At least 11 people have died and several others injured after a fire broke out late Tuesday evening at a home for the elderly in Tuzla, northern Bosnia and Herzegovina, officials and local media reports.

The blaze erupted around 9 p.m. local time (2000 GMT) and was extinguished roughly an hour later, according to Federalna TV. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Deputy Commander of the Firefighters Jasmin Habul said the emergency call came in at 8:45 p.m., prompting the dispatch of the first two teams who found the fire raging on the top floor of the building.

“They began rescue and firefighting operations, and soon our other teams arrived as well. In total, six of our fire engines responded to the blaze, and the Tuzla Volunteer Association soon joined them,” Habul told reporters.

He described the scene as extremely challenging.

“These are extremely critical and difficult fires, involving immobile and barely mobile individuals, as well as the need to conduct both evacuation and rescue simultaneously,” he said.

Preliminary information indicates that 11 people lost their lives, while five firefighters required medical assistance for smoke inhalation and were treated at the Clinic for Pulmonary Diseases.

A spokesperson for the University Clinical Centre Tuzla, Ersija Aščerić Mujedinović, confirmed that several survivors were being treated for carbon monoxide poisoning, according to local outlet tuzlanski.ba.

Resident Admir Vojkić described the fire as devastating.

“I just saw a huge flame and smoke. The elderly, helpless people were outside. I have no words, really, I have no words,” he said.

Police and forensic teams have sealed off the area as investigators work to determine the cause of the blaze.

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