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2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods

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2024 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods
Date3–4 October 2024
LocationBosnia and Herzegovina (mainly, Jablanica, Fojnica, Kreševo, Kiseljak and Konjic)
Deaths27

During the night of 3–4 October 2024, central and southern Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced severe flooding, the worst since the 2014 Southeast Europe floods,[1] due to an atmospheric river formed over the Adriatic Sea. Several central towns were flooded, and numerous towns and villages became inaccessible as roads, bridges, and railways were obstructed by floodwaters and landslides.[2][3][4] Twenty-seven people have been confirmed dead.[5]

Impact

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Deaths by location
Place Canton Deaths
Jablanica Herzegovina-Neretva 19
Konjic Herzegovina-Neretva 5
Fojnica Central Bosnia 3

In several towns and surrounding areas, flash floods and landslides caused the collapse of homes while residents were still inside.[6] A spokesperson for the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton described the situation as the worst crisis since the Bosnian War, urging residents to avoid travel to the towns of Jablanica and Konjic.[6][7] Kiseljak, Kreševo, and Fojnica in Central Bosnia were also cut off by floodwaters,[6] with landslides posing ongoing risks to nearby villages including Vranići and Kojsina.[3][8] Many settlements between Fojnica and Kiseljak remained inaccessible, with bridges destroyed in places like Gunjani near Kreševo.[4] In Ostrožac, near Jablanica, a landslide rendered the railway inoperable.[3] Residents of Gojevići near Fojnica narrowly escaped flash floods, and in Buturović Polje near Konjic, several people were swept away by the torrent,[9] resulting in two fatalities.[10]

The village of Donja Jablanica sustained the most severe damage, with 19 deaths.[11] Several buildings were entirely buried by landslides. The local mosque's minaret and dome were the only structures protruding from the rubble created by the landslide.[12] Federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić reported that the landslide in Donja Jablanica may have been initiated by a nearby quarry, and an investigation into the cause is underway. According to Nikšić, it was not possible to predict the landslide or evacuate the village in time.[9] Additional fatalities were reported, including three in Fojnica and five in Konjic.[13][11]

Croatia and Montenegro

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There was comparatively minor flooding in neighbouring Croatia, where flash flood warnings were issued for 3–4 October.[14] Gračac and Krk broke their all-time records for daily rainfall, at 249.1 and 192 mm (9.81 and 7.56 in), respectively.[15] The rivers Sava, Kupa and Odra rose due to rainfall. Localised flooding was reported in Ogulin on 4 October[16] and 23 houses were flooded in the Karlovac area during the following night.[17] Floods were also reported in Montenegro, with buildings being swept away by large streams of water.[18]

Rescue operations and aftermath

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The Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina initially announced 14 deaths in Jablanica and one in Fojnica in a special press conference; "numerous"[19] other missing persons were reported by their families.[20] The SarajevoMostar magistral road was closed due to flood damage.[19] The Ministry of Defence deployed helicopters and one EUFOR helicopter was confirmed to have rescued a child amid the debris left by the flood in Jablanica. The Federal Civil Protection Agency is coordinating the rescue efforts.[3]

The Sarajevo Canton police blocked traffic to the Herzegovina–Neretva Canton[21] and the BIHAMK automobile association advised travelers from northern Bosnia to Herzegovina to detour around affected areas.[6] The country's Central Election Commission announced that the 2024 municipal elections were to proceed as planned on 6 October. Many political parties canceled their election rallies due to the floods.[22][23]

On 5 October, electricity was restored to some areas in the Herzegovina–Neretva Canton. There are plans to repair downed power lines to reach the intact buildings in the Jablanica area. According to Elektroprivreda BiH, major damage was averted at three hydroelectric power plants on the river Neretva.[24] Repairs of the railway in Ostrožac are expected to take a couple of months and will cause "enormous damage" to businesses and to the Federal Railways.[25] The Agency for Watershed of the Adriatic Sea issued a new warning for a round of severe rainfall for 9–10 October in an area including Jablanica and Konjic, which could exacerbate the effects of the flood.[26][27]

The country's entity governments, as well as the government of the Brčko District, proclaimed 8 October a national day of mourning.[28]

The Herzegovina–Neretva Canton prosecutor's office opened an investigation into the quarry above Donja Jablanica. According to the cantonal premier, the cantonal government did not issue a concession agreement to the quarry.[27]

Relief efforts and humanitarian aid

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Twelve countries offered help through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, which was activated by Bosnia and Herzegovina on 5 October.[29] Teams from Croatia,[30] Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia and the United Kingdom[31] participated in the rescue efforts. The European Union provided satellite photos from the Copernicus Programme to help the authorities estimate damages. Albania, Hungary, Montenegro, Romania and Turkey provided materials for emergency shelters through an EU programme.[32][33]

The Croatian Bishops' Conference donated €100,000 to Caritas Bosnia and Herzegovina for the flooded areas.[34] The Government of Croatia sent €10 million in aid, together with 37 members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service (HGSS) in flooded areas.[30] Caritas Croatia launched a humanitarian campaign ”Pruži ruku” (”Offer your hand”) for the victims.[35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ BJELAJAC, Maja (4 October 2024). "VELIKA TRAGEDIJA POGODILA BIH: Nenaučena lekcija o poplavama iz 2014., ko je sve odgovoran?". Valter Portal (in Bosnian). Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. ^ "Strašna tragedija u BiH, najmanje 15 poginulih, deseci nestalih: 'Upozoravamo na ono što slijedi za vikend, situacija je dramatična!'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Zagreb, Croatia. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d "Tragedy strikes Bosnia: At least five dead in devastating floods in Jablanica and Konjic". N1Info.ba. Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina: N1. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Katastrofalne scene kod Tarčina: Voda odnijela mostove, poplavile kuće i potpuno odsjekla selo". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ "U Konjicu pronađena posljednja osoba za kojom se tragalo nakon poplava i odrona" (in Bosnian). Klix. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d "Naš reporter probio se do Kiseljaka, pogledajte što je snimio: 'Šteta je ogromna'". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  7. ^ "Potvrđeno 14 smrtnih slučajeva na području Jablanice: "To su oni koje su pronašli spasioci"". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Strašne poplave pogodile i Fojnicu: Brojna naselja pod vodom, štete nesagledive". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Nikšić o kamenolomu u Jablanici: Neka porodica Honđo je vlasnik, na mještane se obrušilo kompletno brdo". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Bolnica iz Turske ponudila pomoć unesrećenim nakon razornih poplava u dijelovima BiH". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Death toll in Bosnia's floods reaches 26, with at least 1 person still missing 10 days after storm". Associated Press. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  12. ^ "Kataklizmične scene iz Donje Jablanice: Kuće zatrpane do krova, iznad nanosa zemlje se vidi samo munara". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Broj poginulih u poplavama i klizištima u BiH porastao na 20". klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Zbog obilne kiše prijeti opasnost od bujičnih poplava" (in Croatian). Zagreb, Croatia: Croatian Radiotelevision. 3 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  15. ^ Pelajić, Izidor; Vakula, Zoran (4 October 2024). "Oborina ponegdje oborila rekorde!" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Vodostaji Save, Kupe i Odre u porastu, u Ogulinu poplavljene kuće i podrumi" (in Croatian). Croatian Radiotelevision. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  17. ^ Pušić, Mario (5 October 2024). "Kupa je premašila sve prognoze: Tijekom noći ušla u 23 kuće, najviše ih je poplavljeno u Brodarcima". Jutarnji list (in Croatian). Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Poplave širom Crne Gore, voda prodrla u kuće, nosila objekte". rtcg.me (in Montenegrin). Radio Television of Montenegro. 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  19. ^ a b "Vanredno obraćanje Vlade FBiH zbog nacionalne tragedije usljed poplava u BiH". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Bosnia: Floods and landslides leave 18 dead". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 8 October 2024. In the town of Fojnica, three other deaths were confirmed.
  21. ^ "Sarajevska policija preusmjerava saobraćaj prema HNK jer je većina puteva devastirana". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  22. ^ "Treba li CIK odgoditi izbore u nedjelju? Poginulo je 15 ljudi, a prekinuta je i putna žila kucavica". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 4 October 2024. Archived from the original on 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  23. ^ "Schmidt: Izmjene Izbornog zakona sam uveo da bih zaštitio vaš glas, to se sada provodi". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  24. ^ "Elektroprivreda BiH: Određena područja su već dobila struju, ali tražimo alternativu za kritična naselja". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  25. ^ "Bit će potrebno nekoliko mjeseci za uspostavljanje željezničkog saobraćaja: Dnevni gubitak je čak 280.000 KM". Klix.ba (in Serbo-Croatian). 5 October 2024. Archived from the original on 5 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  26. ^ "Izdato novo upozorenje za moguće poplave u BiH za srijedu i četvrtak: Jablanica i Konjic opet u opasnosti". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  27. ^ a b Hoić, Helena (7 October 2024). "Vlasti otvorile istragu o kamenolomu iz kojega je sravnjeno selo Donja Jablanica". Zadarski list (in Croatian). Zadar, Croatia. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  28. ^ "Danas je Dan žalosti u BiH zbog razornih poplava i klizišta koja su odnijela najmanje 21 život". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 8 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  29. ^ "Ambasadori država članica EU i komandant EUFOR-a posjetili Jablanicu". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Božinović: Hrvatska uputila brzu pomoć BiH; Pripadnici HGSS-a među prvima na ugroženom području". vlada.gov.hr (in Croatian). Government of Croatia. 6 October 2024.
  31. ^ "Britanski tim se pridružio u evakuaciji ugroženih u poplavama: 'Ponosno smo stali s građanima BiH'". radiosarajevo.ba (in Bosnian). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  32. ^ "Evropski zvaničnici pružili podršku stanovnicima poplavljenih područja, aktiviran i program Copernicus". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 4 October 2024. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  33. ^ "Međunarodnu pomoć za BiH ponudilo 12 država u Evropi, na terenu ekipe iz četiri zemlje". Klix.ba (in Bosnian). 7 October 2024. Retrieved 8 October 2024.
  34. ^ "Hrvatska biskupska konferencija uputila pomoć od 100 tisuća eura za stradale u poplavama u BiH". ika.hkm.hr (in Croatian). Informative Catholic Agency. 5 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Poplave u Bosni i Hercegovini" [Floods in Bosnia and Herzegovina]. caritas.hr (in Croatian). Croatian Caritas.
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