A year after a devastating flood and landslide swept through the small village of Jablanica in southern Bosnia, killing 19 people, residents say their lives have been irrevocably changed. The village marked the anniversary on Saturday with prayers and remembrance ceremonies, as the community continues to grapple with the tragedy.
“It’s all deserted, it's not like it was before,” said Adisa Maslo, reflecting on the desolation left behind. Jablanica was the worst affected of four municipalities hit by torrential rains and flash floods on 4 October 2024, which swallowed roads and bridges and claimed a total of 26 lives across the region.
Parts of the village were virtually buried under mud and rocks that descended from a nearby quarry. Residents recalled a thunderous roar before people, cars and entire houses were swept away within minutes. An investigation into responsibility for the scale of the disaster has so far yielded no results, with many blaming rampant exploitation of natural resources and deforestation.
Adisa Maslo and her husband Emir said their daughter-in-law lost her baby after nearly drowning in the surging mud. Their family home was completely destroyed, and they have been promised a new one on the edge of the village. For Fata Jasarevic, who lost four family members, “there is nothing left but sadness and sorrow.” The 70-year-old was among dozens attending a collective prayer for the victims at the Jablanica cemetery.
“No one came to ask how we are,” Jasarevic said. “As if no one had died.”
