Zlatko Miletic, a delegate in the House of Peoples of Bosnia and Herzegovina's Parliament, spoke on Pressing hard-talk show about the recent catastrophic floods, emphasizing the need to learn from the tragedy and address potential negligence. He highlighted the heroism of some victims, like a young man who saved several lives before being swept away by the floodwaters, and a mother who saved her child but lost her life.

“These people who died should have taught us something, unfortunately. Their actions showed what true humanity looks like,” said Miletic, adding that he found hope in the solidarity shown by those who survived and the response from citizens and organizations like Pomozi.ba.

He expressed frustration with the idea that disasters are simply acts of fate. “I cannot accept the excuse that this had to happen as an act of God. Yes, extreme rainfall might be natural, but the quarry built above people’s homes is not. Neither is polluting rivers or allowing illegal construction,” Miletic asserted.

Miletic criticized the authorities for their lack of preparedness, referring to previous floods in 2014 when many victims alleged corruption in the distribution of aid. He warned that the same issues could arise in distributing aid after this disaster. He stressed, “It’s a failure of the current and past governments to respond in crises.”

Addressing the quarry in Jablanica, which many blame for contributing to the disaster, Miletic called for a thorough investigation. “Citizens in Jablanica know who was exploiting the quarry and who benefited from it,” he noted, urging local authorities to take responsibility.

Miletic also voiced concerns about the risk of similar disasters in Sarajevo due to uncontrolled construction. “In Sarajevo alone, over 860 landslides were identified by 2022, and more than 600 remain active. Many of these landslides are the result of illegal construction on unstable terrain,” he explained, stressing the danger of continued building in hazardous areas.

He highlighted the role of corruption in enabling risky developments: “It’s possible through corruption, bending the rules, and now it’s too late. The tycoon who built the structure and the officials who approved it might make millions, but they don’t care about the consequences for the residents,” he warned.

Miletic’s remarks come as experts caution that climate change and heavier rainfall could further increase the risk of landslides and flooding, posing significant dangers to the region.