On the night of October 3-4 2024, parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina experienced severe flooding. Many central towns were flooded and towns and villages became inaccessible as roads, bridges and railways were washed away or obstructed. The official reports on October 9 say that 22 people have died and six others are missing. Many people in those towns are in desperate need of assistance.
Salaam Foundation’s team received information on October 4 about the flooding when search and rescue efforts began. It was said that many small and large villages between Sarajevo and Mostar were affected. The geographical location of the region made it very difficult for the search and rescue teams to reach some areas. The heavy rains caused flooding in the cities of Kiseljak, Jablanica, and Fojnica. As a result of the flooding, communication with those regions were lost with power and telecommunications connections down. Hundreds of homes have been reported to be submerged.
The flash floods and landslides caused the collapse of homes while many residents were still inside their homes. Inaccessibility became a huge issue with many towns being cut off by the floodwaters, and the landslides also posing a massive risk. The collapse of bridges meant it was difficult for people to find safer ground and for the rescue teams to reach those in need. In Ostrožac, near Jablanica, a landslide rendered the railway inoperable with the key transport infrastructure linking central and southern Bosnia being severely damaged.
Darko Juka, a spokesman for the government of the Herzegovina-Neretva canton, said it was too early to talk about figures but that the damage will be huge.
The worst hit was the village of Donja Jablanica with 16 confirmed dead, 40 individuals reported missing and many more feared dead. Jablanica is located about 70 kilometers southwest of the capitaL, Sarajevo. It has been isolated from the rest of the country due to the rising water levels and landslides. Many of the houses in the area have been destroyed and there is only mud and stone left.
Salaam Foundation has launched an aid intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina along partner teams to support those most affected in the cities of Jablanica, Konjic, Fojnica, and Kiseljak. The immediate need in the region is for ready-to-eat food, water, and hygiene kits.
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Salaam Foundation
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