A severe snowstorm hit Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday, leaving over 170,000 people without electricity and causing widespread disruptions. The storm severely impacted power distribution, with the national energy distributor, Elektroprivreda BiH, reporting that 127,000 metering points were without power. Elektroprivreda BiH continued efforts to repair the faults but the situation worsened as snow continued to fall.
Power Outages and Emergency Measures
In Republika Srpska, the Serb-majority entity of Bosnia, Elektrokrajina reported that around 50,000 customers were also without power. Crews have been working tirelessly since early morning to restore electricity, but the snowstorm has made repair efforts challenging.
State of Emergency Declared in Drvar
In the western part of Bosnia, a state of emergency was declared in the municipality of Drvar due to heavy snowdrifts blocking all access points. The 17,000 residents of Drvar were cut off, with snowdrifts reaching up to two meters (6.5 feet) high. Drvar Municipal Council President Jasna Pecanac stated that the situation was dire, with people stranded in the snow and snow-clearing efforts hampered by continuous snowfall. Authorities have requested additional snow-clearing assistance.
School Closures Across Bosnia
The snowstorm has also led to school closures. In Banja Luka, Bosnia’s second-largest city, elementary schools canceled classes due to the weather. Additionally, around 70 schools in the Una-Sana Canton in northwestern Bosnia postponed classes on Monday due to the severe weather conditions.
