Why are earthquakes a risk in parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Earthquakes are a significant risk in Bosnia and Herzegovina primarily due to the country's complex geological structure and its location within a seismically active region.

The country is dominated by the Dinaric Alps, a mountainous terrain where widespread geologic fault lines are present. These features are part of the broader Alpine orogenic system, which stretches across Europe and was formed by the collision of tectonic plates.

The ongoing seismic activity in this region is a result of the continuing compression and stresses between the Eurasian and African plates. This tectonic movement creates instability that frequently manifests as earthquakes, such as the 1969 event that caused extensive destruction in Banja Luka.