Heavy rainfall in the last two days has caused flooding problems in almost all municipalities and cities of the Una-Sana Canton (USC), especially in the city of Bihać. Flooding occurred in the Bihać settlements of Orašac, Gata, Turija, Čavkići, Ribić, Ripač, Mali Lug, Zlopoljac.
The Cantonal Administration of Civil Protection said that the rainwater drainage channel was overloaded, and that all competent services are already on the ground.
The most critical situation in the afternoon was in the settlement of Orašac, which was confirmed by the president of the local community council, Ramiz Zulić.
“The locals, with the help of members of the Civil Protection Service of the City of Bihać, have been trying to stop the torrential water since morning. Unfortunately, the water has already penetrated several residential buildings. We are all on our feet and we are trying to protect other endangered objects with improvised embankments,” Zulić said.
In the last 24 hours, 97 liters of precipitation per square meter was recorded in the weather station of the city of Bihać. This is almost the monthly measured average in Bihać (125 liters per square meter).
The water level of the river Una in the center of Bihać has already exceeded the critical point of one meter and has currently reached a level of 144 cm, and is still rising.
Director of the Public Company “Vodovod” Bihać Mirsad Merdanić emphasized that the employees of this company are tirelessly helping the residents of flooded settlements, as well as that all available machinery is engaged for the needs of the Civil Protection Service of the City of Bihać. Also, all the city’s local communities have trucks, sand and bags.
Landslides have already been activated in the area of this canton, while the huge rise in the water level of the Una river threatened to temporarily stop traffic on the Bosanska Otoka-Bužim road.
The Federal Hydrometeorological Institute has issued an orange warning due to heavy rainfall in the area of USC in the period from December 10 to 12.
