At Least 8 Immigrants Drown After Boat Overturns
At least eight people drowned after a boat carrying migrants capsized while crossing the Drina River from Serbia to Bosnia. The incident occurred early in the morning, prompting a search operation by local police and rescuers on both sides of the river. Of the 25 individuals on board, 18 managed to reach the Bosnian shore, which included three children, while 16 of the survivors were reported to be from Syria and two from Egypt. The boat was carrying a total of approximately 30 people, and as rescue efforts continue, it remains unclear how many individuals were on the boat at the time of the accident. Migrants often take this Balkan route in an attempt to reach Western Europe, frequently resorting to human smugglers to cross borders illegally.
At least eight people drowned after a boat carrying migrants overturned while crossing the Drina River from Serbia to Bosnia, officials in the two Balkan countries said Thursday.
Serbian police received a call around 5 a.m. from their counterparts in Bosnia and a citizen who reported the accident, said Interior Minister Ivica Dacic.
Dacic said that 18 migrants, including three children, managed to cross into Bosnia, out of 25 people who were in the boat when it overturned.
“Police and rescuers are continuing a further search of the Drina River and the surrounding terrain,” said Dacic in a statement.
Dacic said that out of 18 migrants who made it to shore, 16 are from Syria and two are from Egypt. That includes 10 minors.
Bosnian emergency official Boris Trninic said earlier there were about 30 people in the boat, 15 of whom reached safety.
It was not immediately possible to confirm the exact number of people on the boat.
Migrants using the so-called Balkan land route in their efforts to reach Western Europe come to Serbia from Bulgaria or North Macedonia before moving on to Hungary, Croatia or Bosnia.
To reach wealthy European countries, people fleeing wars and poverty often turn to people smugglers to take them across borders without authorization.
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