Floods hit central and southern Bosnia: Households under water

Bugojno: Waste blamed for Poricnica overflow

In the Municipality of Bugojno, the Poricnica stream overflowed its banks in the Porice Local Community, near the former Rodica Kapija. Several houses have been inundated, with more facing imminent danger.

During the night, police, municipal Civil Protection services, members of the Porice Local Community, and machinery from private Bugojno companies were on-site to assist. According to Bug.ba, the Acting Assistant Chief of the Civil Protection Service in the Municipality of Bugojno, Perica Pejak, stated that while melting snow and intense rain were factors, the flood was primarily caused by large quantities of various waste materials accumulated and blocking the flow beneath the bridge at the affected site. This obstruction prevented the water from following its natural course, forcing it to spill out of the streambed.

MUP (Ministry of Internal Affairs) members have suspended traffic on the Bugojno–Kupres main road section as major efforts are underway using heavy machinery to remove the waste and guide the Poricnica back into its channel.

Mostar region: Dreznica valley cut off

Further south, a sudden and sharp rise in the water level of the Dreznica River occurred overnight, north of Mostar. Roads in the Dreznica valley are severely flooded, and water is penetrating homes. Concerned residents spent a sleepless night trying to save their property and fearing for their lives.

"The water is carrying everything away, the roads are already floating, we can’t get to the store or the bus. Some houses are cut off from the world," reported residents from the Dreznica valley, urgently calling for assistance.

The Dreznica valley, located just a few kilometres south of Donja Jablanica, was also struck by torrential floods last year, and this past March, the swollen Drezanka stream washed away the road to the settlement of Luke.

Citizens speaking to Bljesak.info expressed frustration over previous insufficient repairs: "Since the last time, they made minor repairs and sent a village excavator operator to pile up sand to blind us. That sand was washed away yesterday. We have to take the long way through the woods to get to the bus, and there are sick people that the emergency services cannot reach."

Residents in both Bugojno and the Dreznica Valley have spent a night of fear and struggle as the floodwaters continue to rise and endanger homes and infrastructure.