Bosnian volunteers clean up Lake Jablanica after devastating floods

(20 Oct 2024)
RRESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jablanica, Bosnia - 20 October 2024
1. Various aerials of rubbish and debris in lake ++MUTE++
2. Various of local resident Ibro Besic in his boat removing debris from lake
3. SOUNDBITE (Bosnian) Ibro Besic, 62-year-old local resident:
"I was born at this lake, it's normal that I'm here and helping. I am doing what I can. I want to clean up so the lake can be clean for everyone. It's shameful if we just leave all this trash to float around, and we all want to come here in the summer and swim here."
4. Besic in his boat collecting rubbish
5. SOUNDBITE (Bosnian) Ibro Besic, 62-year-old local resident:
"Most of the trash is plastic. When we were cleaning up towards Buturovic Polje, we found dead cows, all sort of things. Sometimes you can't even approach it. A lot of debris. Some houses are floating."
6. Various of people cleaning on shore
7. SOUNDBITE (Bosnian) Dervis Gabela, local environmental activist:
"Boys here are willing to help, in general, people responded to calls for help. Well done to the organizers of this cleanup. We, from the association (environmental), are also helping. We are helping throughout the year. In general, residents who live around Jablanica Lake are volunteers, and they take part in cleaning throughout the year, especially during the summer. They are cleaning up the plastic and disposing of those plastic bottles in bags."
8. Various of people using quad bikes to pull tree from lake
9. Various aerials of clean up underway at lake ++MUTE++
STORYLINE:
Volunteers and environmental activists gathered Sunday at Lake Jablanica in southern Bosnia to begin clearing trash and debris after recent deadly floods.

Residents used boats and quad bikes to remove plastic waste, fallen trees, and even dead animals from the lake's usually clear waters.

"Most of the trash is plastic," said 62-year-old local resident Ibro Besic who was out on the lake in his boat removing rubbish.

"When we were cleaning up towards Buturovic Polje, we found dead cows, all sort of things," he added.

Local officials said dozens of tons of debris have been collected since cleanup efforts began, adding that it could take weeks to restore the region’s rivers and lakes to their pre-flood conditions.

The death toll from this month’s devastating floods and landslides in Bosnia has reached 26 people while rescue teams are searching for at least one more person still missing some 10 days after a rainstorm caused havoc in the Balkan country, authorities said on Monday.

Torrential rain and winds hit four municipalities in central and southern Bosnia on Oct. 4. Homes, roads and bridges were destroyed, leaving villages cut off without roads or power.

Rescue teams have been sifting through the rubble for days, looking for those still missing. The hardest-hit area was in and around the southern town of Jablanica where a village was buried in rocks from a quarry on a hill above.

AP video by Armin Durgut

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