Konavle gridlocked by border traffic; Mayor calls it most stressful day

The Konavle region in Croatia is paralyzed by unprecedented traffic jams as thousands of vehicles attempt to cross into Montenegro. Border crossings at Debeli Brijeg and Konfin are experiencing wait times of over 10 hours, with traffic queues stretching back to Čilipi. The sheer volume of cars has brought local roads to a standstill, forcing many drivers to abandon their vehicles in the intense summer heat.

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I haven't slept a wink since I became mayor, this is the most stressful day.

Local residents have stepped in to help those stranded in the queues, offering water and allowing people to use their homes for basic necessities. The situation has prompted the activation of the Civil Protection Headquarters by Mayor Božo Lasić, who described the day as the most stressful of his tenure. He has been in constant contact with the Minister of Internal Affairs and the county prefect, seeking urgent measures to alleviate the crisis.

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The wait to cross the state border at the Karasovići border crossing is up to ten hours, which has practically paralyzed Konavle. Therefore, we insist that all competent institutions immediately take all available measures to alleviate the situation as soon as possible.

"The wait to cross the state border at the Karasovići border crossing is up to ten hours, which has practically paralyzed Konavle," Lasić stated, emphasizing the need for immediate action from all relevant institutions. He expressed hope that this difficult situation will finally spur authorities to permanently resolve the issues of traffic congestion and long waits at the Karasovići border crossing.

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I believe that no evil is only for evil and that this difficult situation will finally prompt the authorities to permanently solve the problem of traffic jams and long waits at the Karasovići border crossing.

While the situation at the Debeli Brijeg crossing is gradually improving, the primary problem remains the inability of local residents to access their homes and communities. The extended waiting times, exacerbated by high temperatures, have led to considerable nervousness among travelers. Emergency services have intervened in several cases, highlighting the critical nature of the ongoing traffic chaos.

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Our biggest problem is that people in our surrounding villages are prevented from entering and leaving, and that causes us the most trouble. The border crossing itself at Debeli Brijeg is a bit different from others, so a queue forms and all local roads become dysfunctional. People going from work, to work, anywhere cannot get to their homes and additional nervousness is created. Those travelers who wait for 12, 13, and even 15 hours or more are naturally nervous in these high temperatures.