Harun Nasrullah
Hundreds of mourners gathered in Jablanica on October 15 to bury 19 victims of the catastrophic floods that devastated central and southern Bosnia earlier this month. The natural disaster, which took place on October 4, claimed at least 26 lives, wiped out entire villages, and caused significant damage to roads and other infrastructure. Torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides, sweeping away homes and people and leaving behind an overwhelming toll of grief.
Communities have been profoundly affected, especially in the hardest-hit village of Donja Jablanica, where Semir Jahić, a local Islamic scholar, mourned the loss of 18 members of his congregation. “We are too small a community to lose so many people in one day,” Jahić said, capturing the depth of the tragedy.
In Jablanica’s Muslim cemetery, coffins draped in green cloth were lined up as family members and friends gathered for prayers. Enes Dzino sat in sorrow next to the coffins of nine relatives, including his daughter-in-law’s parents, brother, uncles, and their children. His loss echoes the unimaginable devastation experienced by many in the area.
The flooding that caused such destruction was one of the worst the country has seen since 2014. Torrential rains caused rivers to burst their banks, leading to flash floods that swept through homes and roads, leaving residents trapped or displaced. Rescue operations, with support from neighbouring countries, are ongoing as several people remain missing.
A thunderous rumble woke up the town’s residents in the middle of the night as floodwaters swept away property. Debris from the flooding has clogged the famous Neretva River, a popular destination for tourists within and outside Bosnia. The river, normally green in colour, has been clogged with waste leftover from the floods.
This summer, Bosnia experienced unprecedented heatwaves that shattered records, leading to widespread blackouts and posing a significant threat to the nation’s agricultural sector. Scientists warn that the intense drought conditions have hindered the soil’s ability to absorb floodwaters, exacerbating the devastation wrought by subsequent flooding.
Photo: A mosque is submerged underwater from severe floods as Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Armed Forces assist civilians at risk on October 4. (Credit: Elman Omic/AA)
