Banja Luka tree fall near school sparks calls for accountability

A large tree fell directly in front of the entrance to the ‘Stanko Rakita’ elementary school in the Debeljaci neighborhood of Banja Luka. The incident occurred at 7:23 AM on a Sunday; authorities noted that had the event happened on a weekday, it could have resulted in a catastrophe for the many students who pass through that area during peak morning hours.

Local community leader Dejan Štrbac has announced intentions to seek accountability from the Banja Luka City Administration. Reports indicate that school leadership had submitted official requests as early as July to have the hazardous, decaying tree removed, but these appeals were reportedly ignored by the relevant municipal departments.