Bosnia Attempts Recovery After Record Floods, Landslides

A drone shot shows the village of Donja Jablanica devastated by flash flooding and landslides in Jablanica, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on October 7.

 

The search for five missing people continues in Jablanica, southwest of the capital, Sarajevo, as workers struggle to clean inundated fields. 

Part of the railway that passes through Donja Jablanica was destroyed by a landslide that tore through the village, leaving crushed houses and felled trees in its wake.

Floodwaters have now receded, but at the peak of the flooding last week the mosque in Donja Jablanica was almost completely submerged, with only the dome of the roof and the minaret visible.

Authorities declared a state of emergency following the October 4 floods, which left some villages completely cut off and forced many residents to dig out of the ruins caused by the disaster in the Balkan nation of some 3.2 million people.

Anel Steta, a volunteer worker from Mostar, said the situation in the Jablanica region was "catastrophic."

Roads to and from the Jablanica region were destroyed in the floods, with communications between Jablanica city and Mostar being established for emergency vehicles.

Rescue teams from European Union countries were joining aid efforts and attempting to help locate those who were missing following the flash floods and landslides.

Aid collected for communities devastated by the flooding in Jablanica. 

Luigi Soreca, who heads the EU mission in Bosnia, said that the bloc had activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM) to help aid the country, which is not yet an EU member but aspires to become one.

A worker ropes off the railway tracks next to the destroyed station in Jablanica.
 

Machines clean the field

A view from the railway line of the mosque and houses destroyed by the flood and landslide.

Emir Begovic, a resident of Donja Jablanica, told RFE/RL that "when we saw the storm coming we expected this…Water came through the front door, the door immediately broke and [water] pushed us into one of the bedrooms."

The sudden rains hit as many residents were sleeping, and water rose over the roofs of houses and left entire villages buried in mud.

 

According to Bosnian Prime Minister Nermin Niksic, a large number of victims were recorded in the village of Donja Jablanica due to the flooded quarry, which collapsed and send a landslide down the mountain.

At least 22 people have been reported dead so far, and more than six remain missing.