Deadly Fire in Belgrade Elderly Home Is a Suspected Arson

A fire claimed the lives of eight residents at an elderly care facility on the outskirts of Belgrade, Serbia, early Monday. The blaze erupted around 3:30 a.m. in Barajevo, a southern municipality of the capital, according to Serbian state television RTS. Seven more individuals were injured, with one reported in serious condition, and authorities suspect the fire was deliberately set by one of the deceased residents.

Emergency responders arrived swiftly but were unable to prevent the fire from engulfing a significant portion of the facility, housing a total of 30 residents at the time. Serbian Social Care Minister Nemanja Starovic lamented the loss of life, referencing the speed at which the fire spread. The injured were taken to two hospitals in Belgrade, with one patient's condition deemed critical. Luka Causic, an emergency sector officer, conveyed the gravity of the incident, while noting that the situation could have been even more devastating. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)