In Croatia, at least 14 migrants have lost their lives in the last year and a half

The tragedy near the village of Drežnica, where two migrants lost their lives in a rockslide, is unfortunately not the first such event in recent times, writes Novi list.

According to official data from the Ministry of the Interior, from the beginning of 2017 until June 28 of this year, twelve migrants have died in Croatia, of which four died last year and eight this year. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Karlovac County.

However, the data from non-governmental organizations differs somewhat. According to information provided to Novi list by activist Julija Kranjec from the Center for Peace Studies, in 2017, the Center recorded that six people lost their lives while crossing the Croatian border, while the data for 2018 is the same as that provided by the Ministry of the Interior.

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According to current information, the cause of death is an unfortunate accident, and it is still unknown from which country the migrants originated, as well as how and where they entered Croatian territory. The latest news from the Karlovac Police Department indicates that more official information will be available on Monday after a criminal investigation has been conducted.

One of the residents of the village of Tomići, Đorđe Tomić, told reporters that four migrants knocked on his door, as well as the rest of the village, shouting ‘police’. According to his version of the story, the migrants were killed by a large rock while they were sleeping under the road.

– A rock broke off from a distance of 40 to 50 meters, crossed the road, and fell on them, Tomić further stated, who is also the president of the Local Committee of Drežnica, and according to what he told reporters, he led a doctor to the accident site, navigating through a difficult gravel road in an SUV.

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He stated that the unfortunate man had a rock fall on his chest, killing him instantly, while another was struck in the hip, seriously injuring him. According to Tomić’s account, the locals managed to pull the other man out, and he was alive for some time before he passed away.

The site of the tragedy is about seven kilometers from the village of Tomići, and according to unofficial information, documents found on the deceased young men suggest that they are Syrian nationals in their early twenties.

The location where the police found the migrants is considerably further south compared to the current illegal route from the state border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, which leads through the area near Generalski Stol and along the Kupa River, from where migrants are attempting to illegally cross into Slovenia.