Further Warning Issued Due to Rainfall and Potential Landslides and Flash Floods

(Patria) - The Adriatic Sea Water Basin Agency has issued a warning regarding heavy rainfall forecast for Wednesday, October 9.

According to the Agency's announcement, due to the forecasted rainfall (between 30 and 60 liters per square meter), water levels are expected to rise at most hydrological stations within the Adriatic Sea water basin, particularly in the flooded areas of TMT (Tihaljina, Mlade, Trebižat) and the middle and lower Neretva with its tributaries.

The warning is issued due to the current situation in the flooded areas, considering the possibility of flash floods and landslides, and covers the municipalities and cities of: Konjic, Jablanica, Mostar, Čapljina, Grude, Ljubuški, Široki Brijeg, and Posušje.

Relevant institutions are advised to monitor the situation and act in accordance with their authorities, adhering to the Federal Flood Defense Operational Plan. Services implementing protection measures, and rescue of people and property are recommended to exercise additional caution.

Civil Protection authorities should warn the population in areas along rivers without constructed water protection facilities about the danger of approaching the banks due to potential increases in water depth and flow speed, and provide timely information with instructions and guidelines for behavior so that the population can implement measures to reduce potential damage from harmful water effects.

Regarding the assessment of the hydrological situation in the coming days, the Sava River Water Basin Agency also issued a statement, reporting a decrease in water levels at all hydrological stations within the Sava water basin in FBiH.

Given that new rainfall is forecast for the night of October 8-9, 2024, predominantly in the Adriatic Sea water basin, certain amounts are also expected in the upper parts of the Una, Vrbas, Bosna, and Drina river basins.

The rainfall will affect areas that experienced extraordinary hydrological conditions last weekend (upper parts of the Una and Bosna river basins). The forecasted rainfall amounts are less compared to the rainfall that caused the floods.

Due to the new rainfall, early flood warning models simulate a slight rise in water levels at some hydrological stations, so normal hydrological conditions are expected throughout the Sava River water basin.

"We inform the competent services as well as the population living in areas affected by flash floods to exercise additional caution, as new rainfall is expected during the night and that these, due to changes in hydromorphological flow conditions in the basin and rivers, may affect initiated erosion processes in the basin," the statement said.

The information on the forecast is based on forecasted rainfall data, so changes in the weather forecast may also affect the predicted hydrological situation. In case of a significant change in weather conditions in the Sava River water basin, the Sava Water Basin Agency will issue a timely notice about the forecast of extraordinary hydrological conditions.