SARAJEVO — At least 14 people were killed in central Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) as heavy rain triggered flash floods in the Jablanica municipality overnight Friday, officials of Herzegovina-Neretva Canton (HNC) confirmed.
Darko Juka, head of the Public Relations Department of the HNC government, said that emergency services are doing everything possible to rescue victims and transport them to nearby medical facilities.
The most critical situation is in Donja Jablanica, a village that remains completely cut off due to collapsed roads. Rescue teams are using boats provided by the Armed Forces and other emergency services.
Severe flooding has also disrupted roadways, isolating several municipalities. Miroslav Jakic, director of the civil protection administration of Central Bosnia Canton, confirmed that all rivers and streams in the region have overflowed their banks, and civil protection teams are on their way to affected areas.
BiH’s Minister of Defense Zukan Helez has deployed the Armed Forces to assist in rescue efforts and protect civilians. The Ministry of Security confirmed that additional support, including helicopters, has been requested for the affected regions.
XINHUA