Two more residents of the Home for the Elderly in Tuzla pass away, Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton announces cause of fire was short circuit on radio receiver

(Patria) - Experts in electrical engineering and fire protection have submitted their findings and opinions to the Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton regarding the causes of the fire at the Home for the Elderly in Tuzla. The fire resulted in the deaths of 15 people and injuries to more than 30. Autopsies of the two women who passed away last night will be conducted in the near future.

"The findings and opinion of the electrical engineering expert state the cause of the fire. It occurred as a result of a short circuit on the conductors of the connecting cable of a radio receiver, which at the time of the fire was plugged into a socket, squeezed between the mattress on the bed, the wall, and the metal part of the bed in the room of one of the residents of the Home for the Elderly in Tuzla. The primary cause was first mechanical, and then thermal stress on the cable.

The expert's findings and opinion on the causes of the fire are the initial part of the investigative actions being carried out and will be conducted further to determine responsibility and omissions, with the aim of gathering facts on whether the consequences could have been avoided or mitigated. The Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton has formed an investigative team consisting of two prosecutors and a team of investigators from the Criminal Police Department of the Ministry of Interior of Tuzla Canton. The team is already conducting investigative actions and gathering evidence to establish relevant facts.

The investigation will be extensive and detailed. All circumstances of the fire's origin will be checked, including the entire causal chain, responsibility and omissions in work, as well as all facts regarding the taken or untaken safety and fire protection measures in the facility.

The investigation is focused on determining criminal responsibility, i.e., elements for the existence of reasonable suspicion that official or responsible persons (or other persons) have committed criminal acts. The investigation is initially based on and linked to the criminal offense of serious crimes against the general safety of people and property in connection with the criminal offense of causing general danger, resulting in the death of multiple persons, as well as the criminal offense of negligent work in service.

During the investigation, prosecutors will issue orders and directives for all investigative actions deemed necessary in the process of gathering evidence.

Additionally, extensive and detailed expert examinations will be conducted by a team of expert witnesses in construction, architecture, and fire protection, which will include numerous parameters for checking safety mechanisms and fire protection in the Home.

Witness hearings are also ongoing. All relevant material documentation will be seized to help gain a broader picture during the conduct of investigative actions.

The Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton considers work on this case an absolute priority," the Prosecutor's Office of Tuzla Canton announced.