At least 20 dead due to floods in recent days in central Bosnia, according to a new report

Von der Leyen announces the activation of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to facilitate relief efforts

Oct. 6 () –

At least 20 people have died and dozens more are still missing in central Bosnia due to floods that have hit the city of Jablanica, in the province of Herzegovina-Neretva, especially. In the last few hours, two new lifeless bodies have been located, increasing the death toll of 18 reported on Saturday.

At least 15 of the fatalities correspond to Jablanica, two more have died in Buturevica Polje, in the Konjic region, and three more in Fojnica, according to Bosnian public television, BHRT.

There are numerous isolated towns and roads closed mainly between Mostar and Jablanica making movement of emergency services difficult.

Meanwhile, more than 300 volunteers work alongside emergency services to help the population, coordinated by Civil Protection. The authorities have warned that people should not intervene on their own, but rather make themselves available to Civil Protection.

As a novelty, the Bosnian Ministry of Security has requested international help through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and a dozen countries have responded overnight with commitments to send resources. Specifically, Croatia, Serbia and Slovenia will send rescue teams and there is also help on the way from Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, the Czech Republic or Turkey.

“Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, affected by devastating floods,” said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. “We have activated our EU Civil Protection Mechanism and are sending rescue teams to the field. This is EU solidarity in action,” he added on his X social network account.

There are also numerous people who have been left homeless and have been housed in hotels or in the homes of friends or relatives. Sports centers have also been set up in which beds have been installed for displaced people or emergency services workers.

The area has been declared the scene of a natural disaster, as has also occurred in the towns of Kiseljak, Kresevo, Fojnica and Vares, as announced by the spokesperson for the Federal Administration for Civil Protection (FUCZ), Majda Kovac.

“In Drvar the situation is under control, but the Red Cross is on alert. In Kiseljak there is an operation underway to clean flooded houses and there are about 200 volunteers working. In Jablanica, Konjic, Fojnica and Kresevo we continue working to distribute emergency kits. hygiene, food and water,” said a spokesperson for the Bosnian Red Cross, Lamija Alic.

The positive note of Sunday’s day was the rescue of a child who had been trapped under two tons of rubble in his home in Donja Jablanica. It has been able to be extracted and has already been transferred to the Cantonal Hospital of Mostar.