Lake Perucac, situated on the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, was drained in 2010 during turbine repair work at the Bajina Basta hydroelectric dam. This led to the discovery of skeletal remains along the exposed banks, revealing victims of the 1992 massacre in the town of Visegrad. The massacre, carried out by Bosnian Serb forces, resulted in the killing of over 2,000 Bosniak civilians who were thrown into the Drina River. The repairs allowed for the search and exhumation of more than 200 bodies before the dam's reopening. The investigation shed light on the extent of the atrocities committed and highlighted the challenges of locating missing persons. Volunteers and investigators dedicated efforts to recover remains and personal belongings, revealing the brutal nature of the crimes committed. The search received limited support from state institutions and politicians, with ordinary people offering their assistance instead. Eventually, the water level was raised, leaving unidentified remains permanently concealed. In subsequent years, DNA analysis identified the exhumed victims, including those from Visegrad, Srebrenica, Zepa, and other incidents. Lake Perucac remains one of the largest mass graves in modern European history, with many victims still submerged in its waters.

Type of Data Point - News or Reportage

Watery Grave: The Bosnian Lake That Still Hides Victims of War - BalkanInsight

Visit page of the element - Perućac Lake

Inserted: 16-07-2023 08:07:02