Regional police Commissioner Milan Galic later told N1 broadcaster that the victims were local residents, four men and four women, aged 18-20.
“They most probably suffocated but more information will be available after the investigation,” said Galic.
The Posusje municipality, where the village is located, in a Facebook post mourned “eight young lives lost,” and urged local cafes and restaurants to close down to honor the victims. Top officials from Bosnia and Croatia offered condolences to their families.
Bosnian and Croatian media said the eight were high school and university students who died from carbon monoxide leaking from a generator they used for heating as they celebrated New Year’s Eve in a holiday cottage.
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.
[01.01-21:30] #Trebistovo #Posušje #Bosnia #Erzegovina avvelenamento da monossido di carbonio durante festa #capodanno 8 morti (18-20 anni) pic.twitter.com/sK4jM2Tuek
— Emergenza24 (@Emergenza24) January 1, 2021