On February 14, 1971, one of the biggest railway accidents in the former Yugoslavia occurred in Nemila near Zenica.
Thirty-three passengers in the local train number 820 which operated on the route Žepče-Zenica were killed in the railway tunnel Vranduk.
A diesel locomotive with two tons of oil in the tank caught fire only 300 meters before the exit from a 1.532 meters long tunnel and took 33 persons, mostly residents of Nemila and surrounding settlements, to death.
After the locomotive caught fire, the railways explained to the slumbered passengers that they should run in the opposite direction, towards Nemila. However, complete dark, panic and fast-spreading fire prevented many in their attempts to save their lives.
Rescuers, emergency service and other services arrived at the scene of the accident shortly after. However, the operation of saving the survivors from the tunnel lasted until late afternoon hours. Bodies of the killed passengers and remains of the locomotive were taken out of the tunnel only several days after.
According to statements of witnesses who participated in rescuing the passengers and removing the locomotive, the rails partially melted from the fire.
On that morning, following residents of Žepče and Zenica were killed: Salih Neslanović, Radoslav Kalajdžić, Huso Spahić, Nedžad Mujkanović, Petar Dragičević, Šefik Tahirović, Ibro Mujičić, Safet Rešić, Šefik Hamzić, Husein Aganović, Hamdija Kišija, Sadik Berbić, Muhamed Telalović, Refik Huskić, Sabid Novalić, Ibrahim Berbić, Mustafa Murtić, Rizah Poturović, Ađul Vejzović, Mustafa Halilović, Salih Oruč, Nazif Memčić, Sulejman Hibić, Mato Mijatović, Feriz Huseinović, Muharem Mašić, Huso Liskavica, Sulejman Nemčić, Bajro Fetić, Fata Hodžić, Habiba Mašić, Mustafa Bešić and Asija Aganović.
President of Yugoslavia Josip Broz Tito sent a telegram of condolences to the members of the families of the killed passengers.
(Source: klix.ba)
