SARAJEVO: At least nine people died and several others still missing after a boat carrying migrants capsized on Thursday in the Drina River, which marks the border between Serbia and Bosnia, officials said, as a search for others continued.
The incident occurred early Thursday near the border town of Ljubovija in Serbia, where a boat carrying approximately two dozen migrants capsized. The vessel was attempting to cross from Serbia into Bosnia when it overturned.
Bosnia’s civil protection agency reported that rescue teams, including divers, recovered the bodies of nine persons from the river. Authorities have yet to confirm the number of people still missing or provide details on their nationalities.
Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic confirmed that Serbian border police were alerted to the incident by both Bosnian border authorities and a local resident. Early reports indicated that the boat overturned during the night, and rescue operations have since been underway.
After the boat capsized, 18 survivors, including three children, managed to reach the riverbank and were later accounted for by the authorities. Rescue teams continue to search the area for any additional survivors or victims.
The Drina River is a critical segment of the “Balkan route,” a major migration pathway used by people seeking to enter the European Union. Both Serbia and Bosnia are key transit points for migrants attempting to reach EU member states.
Since the peak of the refugee crisis in 2015, over a million migrants from Asia and Africa have passed through Serbia, with many seeking to enter EU countries such as Hungary or Croatia. Recent figures indicate a significant drop in the number of migrants attempting to cross Serbia, with 10,389 illegal entries recorded in the first half of 2024—a nearly 70 percent decrease compared to the previous year.
Serbian officials attribute the decline to enhanced cooperation with Austrian police and Frontex, the EU’s border management agency. Many migrants utilize smugglers to cross from Bulgaria and North Macedonia into Serbia before continuing their journey towards the EU.
