Flash floods and landslides in central Bosnia-Herzegovina have wreaked havoc, resulting in at least 18 confirmed fatalities as towns and villages remain isolated amidst the devastation. The situation is dire, with reports indicating that homes in some areas are almost completely submerged.
The worst affected region is around Jablanica, a town situated on the main route connecting the cities of Mostar and the capital, Sarajevo, approximately 70 kilometers (40 miles) northeast.
A state of emergency has been declared, and development minister Vojin Mijatovic has described the event as a “terrible disaster,” urging citizens to remain calm during this crisis.
As rescue operations continue, search teams are still looking for more than a dozen individuals reported missing.
On Sunday, two additional bodies were recovered in the village of Donja Jablanica, where a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried several homes. In some instances, water levels reached the rooftops of buildings, leaving rescuers to clear mud and debris by hand.
International assistance has begun pouring in, with teams from Serbia, Croatia, and North Macedonia joining local efforts. The European Union is also sending aid to help address the growing humanitarian crisis.
On Saturday, officials from the Herzegovina-Neretva Canton revised the death toll, confirming 13 fatalities in the Jablanica area rather than the previously reported 16. Additionally, three deaths were confirmed in the nearby town of Fojnica, highlighting the widespread impact of the flooding.
The relentless rain led to rivers overflowing their banks after a severe overnight storm, inundating numerous towns and villages. Aerial images captured the extent of the flooding, showing vast areas submerged under water.
Key infrastructure has suffered significant damage, with roads, bridges, and railway tracks washed away or obstructed by debris. Landslides have left homes buried under rocks and soil, some nearly reaching their upper levels.
The M-17 route, which runs alongside the River Neretva, was particularly hard-hit, with debris covering roadways near Jablanica.
A stretch of railway, measuring 17 kilometers, was severely compromised between Ostrozac and Grabovica to the west, with a 200-meter section left hanging in the air due to a landslide.
Local authorities in Herzegovina-Neretva Canton have advised drivers to steer clear of hazardous roads in the Jablanica area, emphasizing the dangers posed by the unstable conditions.
Residents have recounted harrowing experiences, such as a homeowner in the region who described how floodwaters surged into their house around 3:30 a.m. on Friday, forcing them to flee just in time to save their son before their home collapsed.
The flooding crisis is not confined to Bosnia alone. In neighboring Montenegro, roads have been washed away, isolating the village of Komarnica, while water levels in several Croatian rivers are rising.
The government in Zagreb has warned of potential flooding in areas near the Kupa River, particularly in the city of Karlovac.
Central Europe has experienced severe flooding recently, with extensive damage reported in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.
Scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group have noted that a four-day period of rainfall last month was the most significant ever recorded in the region, exacerbated by climate change.
They warn that Europe is experiencing the fastest temperature rise of any continent, with the last five years averaging 2.3°C warmer than the late 19th century.
As recovery efforts continue in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the urgent need for support and infrastructure rebuilding becomes increasingly apparent.