Eight injured in factory fire in north BiH

Alsharq Tribune-AFP 

Eight people were injured on Friday after a large fire broke out at a furniture factory in Brcko in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), local authorities said.

The fire engulfed a significant part of the "Alizino" factory located in a business zone, causing extensive material damage, according to initial estimates. Thick black smoke was visible from several parts of the settlement, hampering emergency response efforts.

Salih Ibrahimovic, spokesperson for the Brcko Health Center, said eight injured workers with severe respiratory complications were transported to Brcko General Hospital. All received medical treatment and oxygen support and are currently out of life-threatening danger.

Brcko District police said they received a report at 2:55 p.m. local time (1355 GMT) that a warehouse in the Bukvik settlement was on fire. Firefighters had not fully extinguished the fire as of press time, police spokeswoman Dzevida Hukicevic said.

Preliminary information indicates that the fire broke out during welding work, when sparks ignited highly flammable sponge material, leading to the rapid spread of flames. An investigation will be launched once conditions permit, Hukicevic added.