Two people rescued from minefield in Donji Vakuf thanks to quick reaction of FUCZ deminers

(Patria) - A demining team of the Federal Civil Protection Administration (FUCZ) last night conducted the "Quick Response" operation in the Šipin Most – Turića Do area in the municipality of Donji Vakuf, during which two people were rescued from a marked minefield.

The Civil Protection Service of Donji Vakuf, through the Cantonal Civil Protection Administration of Travnik, informed the FUCZ in the afternoon that two people had entered a mine-suspected area in the Šipin Most – Turića Do locality in the municipality of Donji Vakuf.

In accordance with the procedure for "Quick Response", a rescue operation was immediately launched, and an FUCZ demining team with ten members was dispatched to the scene. The regional office of BH MAC Travnik was also informed, and it sent its representative to the field. After arriving at the scene, telephone communication was established with the individuals who were in the mine-risk area to prevent them from moving, which could have put them in further danger due to the possibility of contact with explosive ordnance.

After an on-site assessment, in accordance with standard operating procedures, demining of a safe path commenced, and operational activities lasted from 18:15 to 19:40, when the individuals were brought out of the minefield to a safe area and handed over to a patrol of the Donji Vakuf Police Station.

During the formation of a safe path to the individuals in the minefield, two TMRP-6 anti-tank mines and one PMR-2A anti-personnel mine were found and marked.

In addition to FUCZ deminers, members of the Donji Vakuf Police Station, the Service for Social Affairs, General Administration, and Civil Protection of Donji Vakuf, and BH MAC RU Travnik participated in the rescue of the two individuals from the minefield.

The Federal Civil Protection Administration hereby warns of the risk of finding unexploded ordnance (UXO) and mines, and draws attention to the necessity of proper and safe behavior in such situations.

It is important that citizens are aware that mines and unexploded ordnance are dangerous to human life and health, even though 30 years have passed since their use during the war.

Found mines or other explosive devices must not be touched; instead, the discovered device should be reported to civil protection via telephone number 121 or to the police via telephone number 122. It is useful to clearly mark the location where the device was spotted, possibly take a photo, and remember the location so that it can be shown to the competent explosive ordnance disposal team.

Attention is drawn to all those who conduct daily activities outside populated areas and in nature not to move in areas they do not know so as not to wander into minefields, to respect and protect mine markings, and under no circumstances to enter areas marked with mine signs.

We inform the public that the free application "BH Mine Suspected Areas" has been available for a long time, allowing citizens, with the help of smartphones, to see their current location and its distance from areas suspected or confirmed to be mined at any time.