At precisely 10:16 am on Saturday, members of the “Mostari” Diving Club commemorated the 31st anniversary of the destruction of the iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge) in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a symbolic silent dive from the bridge. This gesture, accompanied by the sound of a siren and conducted without applause, mirrored the tragic moment on November 9, 1993, when the bridge was destroyed.

Lorens Listo, President of the “Mostari” Diving Club, emphasized to Anadolu Agency the importance of remembering the destruction that the city of Mostar endured during the war, particularly the loss of the Stari Most, a symbol of the city and nation.

“Each year, we commemorate the anniversary of the bridge’s destruction with a silent dive, without applause, so that this act is neither forgotten nor repeated,” Listo said, noting that this year’s dive was performed by Armin Karalic.

He added, “Today, we were joined by many schoolchildren who threw lilies into the water, and at exactly 10:16 am, we performed the dive as the siren sounded, symbolizing the moment of loss. We do this to ensure it’s remembered and never happens again.”

The Stari Most was destroyed on November 9, 1993, by shelling from the Croatian Defense Council (HVO), which also devastated Mostar’s old town, including mosques, a madrasa, and a public bath. The bombardment lasted several days, intensifying on November 8. Last year, a video recorded from Hum Hill surfaced, providing clear evidence of HVO fighters’ role in the bridge’s destruction.

Originally built in 1566, Stari Most was the largest single-span arch bridge of its time, commissioned by Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and constructed by Turkish builder Mimar Hajrudin.