Posušje remembers the tragedy of the first day of January: Eight young people lost their lives in a holiday home accident

(Patria) - Five years have passed since the tragedy that on January 1, 2021, forever marked Posušje, Herzegovina, and the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina.

On New Year's Eve, in a holiday home in the locality of Tribistovo, eight young lives were extinguished, and the sorrow and pain of that morning draped the entire country in black.

All victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning, and the tragedy could have claimed a ninth victim. A young man, their friend from Rakitno, escaped death only by sheer chance. After they had wished each other a Happy New Year and all the best shortly after midnight, he left the holiday home because he had work waiting for him in the morning at a catering facility on Blidinje. As it would later turn out, that was the last handshake and the last hug.

In those days, in an N1 report from Posušje, words were recorded that still resonate powerfully and painfully today:

“Let us remember them in our thoughts and prayers. Because the entire Bosnia and Herzegovina is in Posušje today. They are ours, and we are theirs. Sarajevo and the entire homeland are with you. Eight girls and young men – we will never forget.”

In this unprecedented tragedy, the following lost their lives too soon:

Ivan Miličević (August 29, 2001), Posušje – Poklečani

Stipe Romić (September 27, 2001), Posušje – Poklečani

Mirela Rezo (September 8, 2001), Switzerland – Posušje

Žana Pavković (September 15, 2001), Split – Vrpolje, Posušje

Mia Soldo (August 4, 2001), Split – Sutina, Posušje

Stipe Pavković (September 22, 2001), Mostar – Vrpolje, Posušje

Marija Pavković (April 16, 2001), Split – Vrpolje, Posušje

Stjepan Jukić (August 9, 2001), Mostar – Batin, Posušje