Bosnia was hit by floods and landslides

05.10.2024

Torrential rains hit Bosnia and Serbia in recent days triggering floods and landslides that claimed sixteen lives. According to local authorities rescue workers are still searching for several missing people. The floods in the Balkan Peninsula are similar to those that have recently affected Central Europe. In places in Bosnia and Herzegovina up to 300 millimeters of rain fell.

Photo:Pexels

Unrelenting downpours unleashed floods in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Landslides soon followed destroying dozens of houses, roads and bridges. Among the most affected areas is the municipality of Jablanica located seventy kilometers from Sarajevo. On Friday the village was completely cut off by floods after the road and railway connections were damaged.

The authorities have confirmed that 16 residents died during the flash floods in the village of Jablanica and the situation is still critical. Rescue services are continuously searching for missing people. Civil defense said the death toll was likely to rise. This is the worst flooding in Bosnia since 2014.

The situation was also critical in the town of Kiseljak because the local river overflowed its banks here. A large part of the city was inundated with water which fortunately began to recede on Friday evening. The cantonal government also asked for help from engineers including a rescue helicopter which later took part in operations near the village of Jablanica. The helicopter of the peacekeeping forces of the European Union EUFOR was also involved in the rescue work.

Rescue work throughout Bosnia is complicated by damaged roads which have also stranded several ambulances and police cars. Neighboring Croatia was also hit by flooding on Friday with authorities issuing severe weather warnings for the Adriatic coast and central parts of the country. Similar warnings were issued in Serbia and Montenegro.

Source:AlJazeera/Editorial