A snowstorm swept through several Balkan countries, leaving more than 200,000 homes in Bosnia and Herzegovina without electricity for a second consecutive day. The impact was particularly severe in the northwestern and central regions, where towns and villages were plunged into darkness due to ongoing power outages caused by the heavy snowfall.
Despite the snowfall subsiding on Christmas Day, the aftermath continued to disrupt daily life as many roads remained blocked, hampering access to affected areas. The country's power utilities, Elektroprenos BiH, were faced with the challenge of repairing transmission lines in remote and inaccessible locations.
In neighboring Croatia, emergency crews worked tirelessly to rescue 48 individuals who were trapped under the snow in the central Lika region. Meanwhile, in Slovenia, adverse weather conditions thwarted rescue efforts for a stranded Hungarian hiker in the Alps, as strong winds and snow made helicopter access impossible.
Further west in Serbia, around 10,000 homes experienced power outages in the town of Sabac, with Ivan Spajic, head of the local emergency department, orchestrating restoration efforts throughout the day. By late evening, most households had their electricity supply restored, bringing some relief to the affected communities.
The snowstorm's aftermath underscored the resilience of emergency response teams and the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions in the region. Despite the disruptions, communities rallied together to support those in need and work towards restoring normalcy amidst the wintry conditions.