Floods Lead to Environmental Crisis in Bosnia

Bosnia is grappling with severe environmental challenges following intense floods and torrential rains. The Neretvica River has become clogged with a massive layer of waste, spanning construction debris, household appliances, and tires.

This environmental crisis threatens the natural beauty of the Neretva Valley, a renowned ecological haven. The Grabovica dam currently holds back the debris, but its potential failure could escalate the disaster, impacting the Adriatic Sea.

The picturesque town of Mostar, with its historic Ottoman bridge, faces significant threats from this pollution. The region is still recovering from a civil war that ended in 1995, and is now dealing with sectarian tensions and corruption.

These issues have stalled its progress toward European Union membership. Rescue teams from the EU are assisting in managing the crisis, but the situation remains dire, with ongoing recovery efforts and the search for flood victims in areas like Donja Jablanica continuing.