Jablanica holds memorial ceremony for flood victims one year on

Although a year has passed, the families of the victims continue to grieve deeply, recalling the tragedy as if it happened yesterday. Fata Jaranovic, 74, lost four members of her family in the disaster.

That night, only the youngest member of the Tufek family, nine-year-old Edi, survived in their home. His grandparents, as well as his parents, perished in the floods. The tragic story of Edi’s loss drew attention not only across the region but also internationally.

Through her sobs, Fata spoke about how much she misses all her loved ones, especially her brother.

“He was everything to me in life. Whatever was needed, he was there for us. I have no one left, and I no longer have a home to go to. Only little Edi remains,” she said.

She added that she visits Edi often and tries not to cry in front of him, though every meeting is painful as they both break down when saying goodbye.

Ekrem Hodzic, the local imam, has stood by his community since the very first days after the floods, and he was present for today’s ceremony as well.

“This is a day when truly not only Jablanica, but the entire homeland of Bosnia and Herzegovina, shows concern for Jablanica, just as it did during the hardest days after the disaster”, he said.