Rescuers in the village of Donja Jablanica are working tirelessly to locate individuals who have gone missing following Bosnia's deadliest floods in years. The N1 TV reported that 21 people have tragically lost their lives, with dozens more unaccounted for in the Jablanica area, located 70 kilometers southwest of Sarajevo.
The Mountain Rescue Service has been actively involved in the search efforts, with some villages in the region still inaccessible. The situation remains uncertain as authorities fear the potential discovery of further casualties as the search continues.
Heavy rainfall initially impeded search operations, but as the weather cleared, rescue teams resumed their efforts. In Donja Jablanica, numerous homes remain buried under rubble, leaving many residents displaced and in need of assistance.
Nezima Begovic, a resident of the area, recounted her harrowing experience, expressing gratitude for escaping unscathed despite the damage to her property. Others, like Enes Imamovic, were not as fortunate, awakening to the sound of destruction as a quarry collapse unleashed a torrent of debris onto the village.
The Bosnian Football Association has postponed all matches in light of the devastating floods, while the country's election commission has opted to delay local elections in affected municipalities. The recent floods come on the heels of an unprecedented summer drought that severely impacted water sources and agricultural activities across the Balkans and Europe.
Meteorologists have pointed to climate change as a significant factor contributing to the extreme weather patterns witnessed in the region, underscoring the urgent need for proactive measures to address environmental challenges and mitigate future disasters.
