State of emergency declared in Banja Luka due to landslides and flooding

According to Babic, widespread landslides have been reported across the city, with the Bronzani Majdan settlement being the most affected. All available emergency teams have been on the ground 24/7, responding to the crisis.

“A commission of ten teams has been formed and will be deployed today across all local communities to assess the damage”, Babic stated.

Authorities have received over 130 reports of landslides and soil erosion.

Babic reassured the public that there is no immediate risk of the Vrbas River overflowing, while the water level of the Vrbanja River is slightly above the regular flood defense level.

During an emergency telephone session on Wednesday, the city’s Emergency Headquarters decided that flooded areas will undergo urgent disinfection once conditions allow. A public procurement process for this task will be conducted.

“So far, we have not received any reports of structural damage to buildings,” Babic confirmed.

In some local communities where a state of emergency had already been declared earlier, auxiliary buildings, garages, and yards have been flooded, but no significant damage reports have been filed so far.

On March 28, the Banja Luka Emergency Headquarters declared a state of emergency in 16 local communities affected by heavy rainfall.