In Karlovac, the situation is critical in the lower parts of the city. Photo: Grad Karlovac Torrential Rain Overflowing Rivers, Cause Chaos in Bosnia, CroatiaAzem Kurtic and Vuk TesijaSarajevo, ZagrebBIRNMay 17, 202314:57 Azem Kurtic and Vuk TesijaSarajevo, ZagrebBIRNMay 17, 202314:57Heavy rain has caused the river Una to overflow in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina while the Korana and Kupa rivers threaten the Croatian town of Karlovac.
Heavy rain that has been falling since Sunday has made troubles in north and northwestern Bosnia, flooding hundreds of objects and cutting off road infrastructure.
A state of natural disaster has been declared in Una-Sana Canton, one of ten cantons in Bosnia’s Federation entity, after heavy rain.
“Our citizens have had a sleepless night, the situation is extremely difficult,” Una-Sana Canton’s Prime Minister, Mustafa Ruznic, said, N1 reported.
Many roads have been flooded, cutting off towns from the rest of the country. Photo: N1
In Bosanska Krupa, the highest river water levels in the history of the town have been recorded. The authorities are no longer able to determine the exact number of flooded buildings.
The Mayor, Armin Halitovic, stated that the “situation has never been more severe, and the precise number of flooded structures and evacuated residents is now unknown”.
Hundreds of sites have been flooded in northwest Bosnia/Photo: City of Bosanska Krupa
The situation remains challenging due to incessant heavy rainfall, which has led to elevated water levels, water spillover from riverbeds, flooding of numerous buildings, disrupted roadways and the triggering of landslides.
The border crossings of Kostajnica and Kozarska Dubica are not operational due to flooding in Croatia, and crossing from Novi Grad to Dvor na Uni is also not advised according to the Auto-Moto Association of Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s other entity, where the situation is also dire.
Aerial footage of one of the flooded areas in the northwest Bosnian city of Bihac. Photo: City of Bihac
In Croatia, the water levels of the Korane and Kupa rivers in the city of Karlovac continue to rise. On Wednesday, the level of both rivers was 831 centimetres and flood defence measures were applied. Embankments are being built and more sandbags are being filled and distributed to threatened parts of the city.
The city stadium in Karlovac is surrounded by water. Photo: City of Karlovac
In Hrvatska Kostajnica, the water level of the river Una rose by 52 centimetres in one day. Kostajnica is also threatened by groundwater and the Una from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite an all-night battle with the river, the water pressure remained high, and the embankments did not hold up in some parts of the city.
Traffic is impossible in Hrvatska Kostajnica due to flooding. Photo: Fire department RH
“Employees of city companies and firemen are still filling sandbags. Members of the Croatian Army, members of the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service, firefighters and members of the State Intervention Unit from Rijeka arrived to help with pumps,” it was reported from Karlovac. The extent of the damage will only be clear when the flood waters recede.
Members of the Croatian Army have also been helping deal with floods. Photo: MORH
Source link: balkaninsight.com
