SARAJEVO, July 9 (Xinhua) -- The Government of the Brcko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina(BiH) declared a state of natural disaster on Wednesday following a severe storm with hail that hit the southern part of the district on Tuesday, causing widespread damage.
According to Egrin Huseinovic, head of the local department for public safety, the storm inflicted major damage on orchards, crops, homes, and infrastructure. Over 600 damage reports have been received by the district's Operations and Communications Center. Emergency services and public companies are actively working to assess the damage and mitigate risks.
Huseinovic said further actions will be taken, and urged residents to follow safety guidelines and report damage through official hotlines.
Amir Softic, head of the local department of agriculture, forestry and water management, said 14 anti-hail stations were operational. On Tuesday, nine stations launched 37 rockets as part of storm response. Air traffic restrictions temporarily halted anti-hail activity during midday.
Brcko District, a self-governing administrative unit under BiH's joint sovereignty, was established in 1999 and plays a key role in the country's post-war governance framework.
