21 dead and dozens missing

At least 21 people have died and dozens are still missing in Bosnia-Herzegovina due to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains in the last 48 hours, according to the broadcaster this Saturday N1.

This figure raises the official figure of 16 deaths given yesterday by the Ministry of the Interior of the canton of Herzegovina-Neretva, about 70 kilometers south of Sarajevothe capital of the country.

Jablanicaa town in that canton, has been partially flooded and isolated by road. Local media indicate that there are dozens of people missing.

He state of natural disaster has been declared in several areas of the center and southwest of the Balkan country, the region most affected by the torrential rains unleashed on Thursday night.

Rainfall of up to 85 liters in 24 hours caused landslides and floods, extensive damage to dozens of cities and towns, and have destroyed roads and railways.

In addition to Jablanica, the towns of Kiseljak, Kresevo, Busovaca and Fojnica have been greatly affected, where some 500 people have been left isolated, without drinking water or electricity.

“I don’t remember a crisis like this since the (1992-1995 Bosnian civil war). The magnitude of this chaotic situation is terrifying,” Darko Juka, head of public relations of Herzegovina-Neretva, told the information portal Klix.ba yesterday.

The greatest damage was caused by rock avalanches driven by bodies of water, Dzenadin Veladzic, president of the Mountain Rescue Service, explained to the press.

“It was unleashed a large number of landslides, stone avalancheshouses and buildings were submerged,” said the expert, quoted by the Serbian agency RINA.

Serbia and Croatia have announced the sending of rescue teams to help locate missing people and collaborate in cleanup efforts, especially in Jablanica.