Serbia Police Search for Migrants After Boat Capsizes in River
- Serbian police are searching for migrants who fell into the Drina river after a boat capsized.
- The incident occurred while the migrants were being transported across the river to Bosnia.
- Rescue efforts are ongoing to find and assist the missing migrants.
BELGRADE, Serbia – A tragic incident occurred early Thursday morning when a boat carrying migrants capsized while attempting to cross the Drina River from Serbia to Bosnia. Serbian police reported receiving an emergency call around 5 a.m. from both Bosnian authorities and a local citizen who witnessed the accident. According to Serbia's Interior Minister Ivica Dacic, of the 25 individuals aboard the vessel, 18 migrants, including three children, successfully reached the Bosnian shore. The search for the remaining individuals is ongoing, with divers expected to assist in the recovery efforts in the river. The incident highlights the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants using the Balkan land route in their quest for a better life in Western Europe. Many of these individuals arrive in Serbia from neighboring countries such as Bulgaria or North Macedonia before attempting to continue their journey towards Hungary, Croatia, or Bosnia. In their desperate attempts to escape war and poverty, migrants often resort to hiring people smugglers to facilitate their unauthorized crossings. This tragic event underscores the dangers faced by those seeking refuge and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.