At least 16 people have died in Bosnia-Herzegovina due to intense rainfall that triggered severe flooding and landslides on October 4, 2024. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue services reach affected villages, with over 40 individuals reported missing, according to local media.
Emir Arfadzan, a resident of Donja Jablanica, about 70 km southwest of Sarajevo, described the situation as 'terrifying.' Initial reports indicated 14 fatalities, but the number has since increased as authorities gather more information.
The Bosnian government has deployed the military to assist civil authorities in response to this disaster. In neighboring Croatia, a red alert for flooding has been issued around the port city of Rijeka, with warnings of expected flooding in several cities, along with power and water outages.
Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that the European Union is prepared to provide additional assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. Janez Lenarčič, the European Commissioner for Crisis Management, announced the activation of the Copernicus Emergency Management System for rapid map production, emphasizing that they are ready to offer more help.