U Sarajevo another traffic accident occurred the previous evening involving a passenger car and tram. Although there were no human victims in this latest accident, the incident further disturbed the citizens who have been protesting in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina for six days.
The Operational Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Sarajevo Canton announced that the collision occurred near the Careva ćuprije, near Baščaršija. Tram traffic was temporarily suspended, two people were transported to the Emergency Medicine Clinic, and the extent of their injuries is still unknown. Traffic is difficult, an investigation is underway, and police patrols and emergency services are on the ground.
And while citizens face unsafe city traffic, another disturbing incident took place on Mount Jahorina. The child fell out of the cable car basket and fell to the ground, after hanging out of the seat for a moment.
Skiers who found themselves under the cable car tried to catch him, but without success. For now, it is not known what caused the child to fall or how badly he was injured. The footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media, but Vreme will not publish it due to its disturbing nature.
What exactly happened and why the protests?
These two consecutive accidents happen in the midst of mass protests, which gathered mostly young citizens, schoolchildren and students. The demonstrations began after a serious tram accident last week, when a tram derailed in the city center, killing a 23-year-old student and injuring several others.
Citizens demand the responsibility of the authorities, the withdrawal of unsafe trams from traffic, a transparent investigation and measures to improve the safety of public transport.
The tram accident that sparked the protests happened last Thursday near the National Museum. The tram derailed and hit the stop, causing devastation to the infrastructure and the death of a young man. After that, the Prosecutor's Office of the Canton of Sarajevo launched an investigation "in several directions", including an examination of the technical correctness of the vehicle and the track, as well as the collection of surveillance footage and eyewitness testimony.
The protests soon grew from regret over the tragedy into a wider civil mobilization against, as the participants claim, systemic problems in public transport, a series of traffic incidents and the irresponsibility of the authorities. Demonstrators demand greater safety of the tram system, withdrawal of old and unsafe vehicles and full transparency of the investigation.
Sarajevo, the authorities launched a formal investigation, including checking the technical condition of the vehicle and the track, collecting surveillance footage and witness statements.
However, citizens criticize that not enough concrete steps have been taken to improve the safety of the tram system or to ensure the responsibility of the authorities, which is one of the main reasons why the protests in Sarajevo have lasted for six days.
