Široča on High Alert: Residents Left Reeling After Sudden Evacuation Order

A sleepless night is behind the residents of Široča Local Community after yesterday’s call for evacuation, which they say they learned about from the media. The first thought was that the landslide had been activated. While the cantonal authorities claim that the evacuation has been under consideration for weeks, the chief claims that a hasty decision has been made. None of the 77 people from a total of 31 buildings are in danger of being evacuated, and especially not to collective accommodation.

Muamer, whose wife is a disabled person, tells us and adds that neither he nor the neighbors slept last night. He signed the consent for evacuation, but does not want to be moved from his house to a shared house. The neighbors think the same.

After local residents and the mayor of this municipality, Irfan Čengić, said they were surprised by the decision to evacuate fThe cantonal Civil Defense administration claims that they have been considering this option for almost a month together with the local government and the local people, which is why the evacuation plan was adopted and a state of natural disaster was declared. Everything within the scheme, including accommodation, they say, is the responsibility of the municipal civil defence.

While the two days have been alternating, as the Bosniak called them – dissonant tones between the municipal and cantonal authorities, the citizens are scared and confused. The Stari Grad Municipal Council voted to allocate 20,000 marks from the budget for the Municipality of Istočni Stari Grad, to which the disputed part belongs, in order to erect a fence. Other measures – in the spring. Local people are wondering where they will go until then, because the option offered to them is not acceptable.