Kupa River: Five migrants drown at Croatia-Slovenia border

Kupa River tragedy Balkan migration route Croatia-Slovenia border migrant drowning Afghan migrants

Five migrants drowned in the Kupa River while attempting to cross the border between Croatia and Slovenia near the settlement of Damalj. The group, consisting of approximately 20 people, was attempting to enter Slovenia via the Balkan migration route.

During the incident, a police officer from Delnice jumped into the river and, with the assistance of a colleague and local residents, successfully rescued five individuals. Another 14 members of the group managed to reach Slovenian territory. Criminal investigators are currently working to determine the exact circumstances of the tragedy.

Croatian Interior Minister Davor Božinović stated that most of the deceased were Afghan citizens. He noted that 30 migrants have lost their lives attempting to illegally cross Croatian territory this year, with 16 of those deaths occurring due to drowning. Božinović also highlighted that police interventions have saved approximately 75 migrants so far this year and emphasized the role of organized criminal smuggling structures in these dangerous crossings.

Entities

Croatia · Croatian Police · Damalj · Davor Božinović · Delnice · Delnice Police Station · Frontex · Kupa River · Ministry of the Interior · Severin na Kupi · Slovenia · Slovenian Police

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 17 SOURCES] A group of approximately 20 migrants attempted to cross the Kupa river toward Slovenia. www.dnevno.hr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · +5 more
[● 17 SOURCES] Fourteen people successfully crossed the river and are now in Slovenia. www.dnevno.hr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · +5 more
[● 14 SOURCES] Five migrants drowned in the Kupa river near Severin na Kupi. www.dnevno.hr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · +2 more
[● 13 SOURCES] A police officer from Delnice, with a colleague and citizens, rescued five foreign nationals from the river. www.dnevno.hr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · +4 more
[● 11 SOURCES] The incident occurred near Damalj at approximately 15:30. www.dnevno.hr · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · zpravy.aktualne.cz · +2 more
[● 15 SOURCES] Criminal investigators are working to determine the circumstances of the event. www.dnevno.hr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.vecernji.ba · mondo.rs · +5 more
[● 20 SOURCES] Five migrants were rescued by police and residents during the river crossing attempt. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr · zpravy.aktualne.cz · www.delo.si · www.dnevno.hr · +11 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The incident occurred in the Kupa River, approximately 90 kilometers southwest of Zagreb. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr · www.times.si
[● 3 SOURCES] The number of people using the Balkan route in 2025 decreased by 42% compared to 2024. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr
[● 20 SOURCES] Five migrants drowned while attempting to cross the Kupa River at the Croatia-Slovenia border. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr · notranjska.si · vojvodjanskireporter.rs · zpravy.aktualne.cz · +12 more
[● 3 SOURCES] More than 12,500 people used the Balkan route in 2025. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Over 400 people have died or disappeared while moving along the Balkan route since 2014. www.in.gr · www.ertnews.gr