The death toll in Bosnia’s floods has tragically risen to 26 people, with at least one person still missing ten days after the devastating storm hit the region. The search and rescue teams are tirelessly working to locate the missing individual amidst the aftermath of the natural disaster that struck the Balkan country earlier this month.
The heavy rainstorm that struck four municipalities in central and southern Bosnia on October 4 brought about immense destruction, causing severe flooding and landslides. Homes, roads, and bridges were swept away, leaving villages isolated and powerless. The communities affected have been left in disarray, with locals struggling to cope with the aftermath of the disaster.
In the hardest-hit area around the town of Jablanica in southern Bosnia, a village was engulfed by rocks from a nearby quarry. Local authorities have reported 19 casualties in Jablanica, where a collective funeral is scheduled to take place to honour the victims of the tragedy. The neighbouring areas of Konjic and Fojnica also suffered significant losses, with four and three fatalities respectively.
Residents in the Jablanica region recounted hearing a deafening roar in the middle of the night as houses were swept away before their eyes. The debris carried by the floods has now accumulated in the Neretva River, turning its once clear emerald-green waters into a channel clogged with various remnants of the destruction.
The devastation caused by the floods is a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on extreme weather events. Scientists have highlighted that human-induced climate change can intensify rainfall by increasing the capacity of warm air to hold moisture. The recent record temperatures experienced in the Balkans have further exacerbated the situation, with drought conditions preceding the destructive floods.
As the communities in Bosnia continue to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster, the efforts of the search and rescue teams remain focused on finding the missing person and providing support to those affected by the catastrophic floods and landslides.