Zagreb, Croatia – Croatian authorities have declared a new humanitarian disaster on the illegal migrat route through the Balkans,
after a boat carrying migrants sank while trying to cross the Sava River at dawn today.
This resulted in 11 victims, including both dead and injured, in an initial count that is likely to rise.
Croatian police said in an official statement that
the boat was overloaded with migrants beyond its capacity.
This led to its imbalance and sudden collapse
amidst strong and complex currents.
This made rescue operations difficult during the initial moments.
Emergency teams managed to rescue several survivors,
while the search for missing persons continues.
It is believed that they were swept away by the force of the current.
According to initial investigations, the migrants attempted to cross
the river at night to avoid border checkpoints.
This is on a route that experts consider one of
the most dangerous on the Balkans road.
This is due to the cold water, the depth of the river,
and the sudden change in currents.
European reports indicate an increase in the use of this road
despite the high rates of drowning in recent months.
The Croatian Interior Ministry stated that the incident
bore the hallmarks of human trafficking networks.
Which drives migrants to cross the river in dilapidated
boats in exchange for large sums of money.
She confirmed that a comprehensive investigation has been launched
to prosecute those involved in organizing the trip.
The incident comes at a time when the region is witnessing
a significant increase in irregular migration attempts towards Europe.
This has prompted several European countries
to warn of the increasing risks of drowning and accidents.
This is along the Balkan route that stretches
between Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.
