Six individuals, including four children, tragically lost their lives in a house fire in Novi Sad, Serbia, early Friday morning. The fire broke out at around 3 a.m. in Novi Sad, located about 90 kilometers north of Belgrade, the country’s capital, according to Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. Upon reaching the scene, an emergency doctor informed state television channel RTS that all the victims had already succumbed to the fire. Initial investigations suggest that a charging electric scooter may have caused the fire, as stated by Dacic.

Dacic reported that the children who perished were aged between 2 and 7 years old. Authorities are in the process of confirming the identities of the victims, with the assumption that they were all members of the same family residing at the address. Expressing deep sorrow, Dacic extended condolences, stating, “This fire is a terrible tragedy, and the whole of Serbia is mourning the tragic death of this family.” He commended the professional response of the firefighters who promptly arrived at the scene following the emergency call.

The city of Novi Sad intends to observe a day of mourning for the family, although a specific date has not yet been announced. Images from the site, depicted in Serbian media, portray burnt remnants within a small, partly constructed brick house in an impoverished neighborhood, including a baby stroller and a washing machine.