---
title: "Five migrants drown while crossing the Kupa/Kolpa river on the Croatia‑Slovenia border"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/conflict/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo"
category: "Conflict & Security"
area: "European Union"
published: "2026-09-26T00:05:16.719Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-25T22:45:07.000Z"
updated: "2026-09-26T00:05:16.719Z"
trust_score: 62
critic_score: 85
hype_score: 15
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-26T00:00:17.020908+00:00"
---

# Five migrants drown while crossing the Kupa/Kolpa river on the Croatia‑Slovenia border

*Two police officers rescued ten people as an investigation into the incident began*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 62 of 100, higher is better. Trust 62: police statement cited and figures sourced, but no named persons or multiple independent reports.
- Craft 85 of 100, higher is better. Critic 85: provides context, specific facts, investigation update, clear writing, no commentary.
- Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: headline matches content, language measured, no sensationalism.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Five migrants drowned while trying to cross the Kupa/Kolpa river at the Croatia‑Slovenia border.
- A police officer jumped into the river and rescued five other migrants.
- Around twenty migrants attempted the crossing; fourteen reached Slovenia, five were rescued, and five died.
- Croatian police have opened an investigation into the incident.

Croatian police reported that a group of roughly twenty migrants tried to cross the Kupa River, which forms part of the border with Slovenia, on Friday afternoon. The river is known as Kolpa in Slovenia. Five of the migrants drowned during the attempt.

A police officer who arrived first at the scene entered the water and helped pull five other migrants to safety. The remaining migrants continued across the border, with fourteen reaching Slovenian territory.

The police statement said an investigation into the circumstances of the crossing is now underway. No further details about the victims or the exact cause of the drownings were released at the time of reporting.

> "An officer who arrived first at the scene jumped into the river, which is called Kolpa in Slovenia, police said."
>
> — Croatian police statement

**~20** — Migrants who attempted the crossing (Approximately twenty people were involved, according to police statements and multiple digests.)

## What the coverage left out

None of the left‑rated reports mentioned the Balkan migration route or the reasons migrants undertake the journey. The right‑rated report did not note that Croatian police have opened an investigation into the incident.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 11 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 46% (5)
- Centre: 45% (5)
- Right: 9% (1)

32 of 43 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-26T00:00:17.020908+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-26T00:15:11.700Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- All five left‑rated outlets reported that five migrants drowned while attempting to cross the Kupa River and that a police officer rescued five others. The in.gr digest described the people as "a group of people, allegedly migrants," highlighting the uncertainty about their status. None of the left‑rated reports mentioned the broader Balkan migration route or the reasons migrants undertake the journey.

### Centre

- The five centre‑rated outlets all carried the core facts of five deaths, five rescues and the police officer’s intervention. The My Mother Lode full report added that the incident occurred on the Balkan land route used by migrants fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa, providing contextual background absent from the other centre digests.

### Right

- The single right‑rated outlet reproduced the basic facts: five migrants drowned, a police officer jumped into the river, and five others were rescued. It did not include any mention of the broader migration context or the ongoing investigation.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- high: 6
- unknown: 32
- veryHigh: 5

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [enikos.gr](https://enikos.gr/international/tragodia-sta-synora-kroatias-slovenias-pente-metanastes-pnigikan-ston-potamo-koupa/2650216) — Tragedy on the Croatian-Slovenian Border: Five Migrants Drown in the Kupa River
- [www.ertnews.gr](https://ertnews.gr/eidiseis/diethni/pente-metanastes-nekroi-stin-odo-ton-valkanion-metaksy-kroatias-slovenias) — Five Migrants Dead on the "Balkan Route" Between Croatia and Slovenia
- [in.gr](https://in.gr/2026/09/26/world/pente-metanastes-pnigikan-ston-potamo-koupa-sta-synora-kroatias-kai-slovenias) — Five Migrants Drown at the Croatian-Slovenian Border
- [kurir.rs](https://kurir.rs/region/hrvatska/10115439/tragedija-u-reci-kupi-pet-migranata-se-utopilo) — HORROR ON THE BORDER OF CROATIA AND SLOVENIA Five People Drowned, the Policeman Jumped Into the Cold River After Them
- [vienna.at](https://vienna.at/5-migranten-ertranken-in-kroatisch-slowenischem-grenzfluss/10495961) — 5 Migrants Drowned in Croat-Slovenian Border River
- [Klix](https://klix.ba/vijesti/regija/pet-migranata-se-utopilo-u-rijeci-kupi-u-hrvatskoj-policajac-uspio-spasiti-pet-drugih/260925242) — Five Migrants Drown in the Kupa River in Croatia, Police Officer Manages to Save Five Others
- [Correio da Manhã](https://cmjornal.pt/mundo/detalhe/cinco-migrantes-morrem-afogados-ao-fazer-a-travessia-de-rio-que-liga-a-croacia-a-eslovenia) — Five Migrants Drown While Crossing the River Linking Croatia to Slovenia
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/east-europe/11168499/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-to-slovenia.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [topky.sk](https://topky.sk/cl/11/9503221/Tragedia-na-hranici-Slovinska-a-Chorvatska--Migranti-sa-utopili-pri-pokuse-preplavat-rieku) — Tragedy on the Border of Slovenia and Croatia: Migrants Drown While Trying to Cross the River
- [iDNES.cz](https://idnes.cz/zpravy/zahranicni/chorvatska-policie-migranti-utonout-more-slovinsko-5-zemrelo.A260925_204620_zahranicni_sahu) — Five Migrants Drown in River on Croatian-Slovenian Border, Twenty Others Survive
- [srpskainfo.com](https://srpskainfo.com/svijet/pet-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-policija-i-vatrogasci-tragaju-za-osobama-koje-su-prelazile-rijeku) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa: Police and Firefighters Are Searching for People Who Crossed the River
- [Aktuálně.cz](https://zpravy.aktualne.cz/zahranici/pet-migrantu-utonulo-v-rece-na-hranici-mezi-chorvatskem-a-slovinskem/r~aaa2991420016471d3e6b32b396a4766) — Five Migrants Drown in River on Croatia-Slovenia Border
- [seznamzpravy.cz](https://seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/zahranicni-pet-migrantu-utonulo-v-rece-na-hranici-mezi-chorvatskem-a-slovinskem-316250) — Five Migrants Drown in River on Croatia-Slovenia Border - Seznam Zprávy
- [Dnevnik](https://dnevnik.si/novice/kronika/med-poskusom-preckanja-hrvasko-slovenske-meje-utonilo-pet-migrantov-2829956) — Five Migrants Drown While Trying to Cross the Croatian-Slovenian Border
- [Avaz.ba](https://avaz.ba/vijesti/region/1075307/utopilo-se-petoro-migranata-u-hrvatskoj) — Five Migrants Drown in Croatia
- [siol.net](https://siol.net/novice/crna-kronika/pri-poskusu-preckanja-kolpe-utonilo-pet-migrantov-702441) — Five Migrants Drown While Trying to Cross the Kolpa River
- [glasistre.hr](https://glasistre.hr/crna-kronika/2026/09/25/pet-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-policajac-skocio-u-rijeku-i-spasio-jos-petero-1086009) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa, a Policeman Jumped Into the River and Saved Five More
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/europe/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-to-slovenia/article_0cdaffca-6295-5a31-8f13-7c7179dfa1d0.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [WBAL](https://wbal.com/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-and-slovenia) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [Ottumwa Courier](https://ottumwacourier.com/news/national_news/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-to-slovenia/article_c769ee23-1de8-5ed7-b89d-6f6cda19268e.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/news/world/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-to-slovenia/article_609e0653-c9f0-5f2b-a5b2-51080ea6329f.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer](https://messenger-inquirer.com/ap/ap_international_news/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-to-slovenia/article_dd34347a-f968-5843-8598-853df9d0c3b2.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-and-slovenia) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/europe/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-and-slovenia/article_4261adc2-fb9d-58b8-9434-34906088551d.html) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/croatia-migrants-drown-slovenia-border-009c6ff6224177dda78cc9401e7c5a5a) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia
- [Radiotelevizija Herceg-Bosne](https://rtv-hb.com/vijesti-hrvatska/petero-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-petoricu-skokom-u-rijeku-spasio-policajac) — Petero Migranata Drowned in Kupi, Petoricu Skokom U Rijeku Spasio Policajac
- [www.kleinezeitung.at](https://kleinezeitung.at/artikel/41298168/fuenf-menschen-ertrinken-in-kroatisch-slowenischem-grenzfluss) — Five People Drown in Croatian-Slovenian Border River
- [jabuka.tv](https://jabuka.tv/tragedija-na-kupi-petero-migranata-se-utopilo-hrabri-policajac-spasio-petoricu) — Tragedy on Kupa: Five Migrants Drowned, Brave Policeman Saves Five
- [Hrvatski Medijski Servis](https://hms.ba/petero-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-petoricu-skokom-u-rijeku-spasio-policajac) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa, Five Were Saved by a Policeman by Jumping Into the River - Croatian Media Service - Now I Know More!
- [Fenix Magazin](https://fenix-magazin.de/hrvatska-petero-migranata-utopilo-se-u-rijeci-petoricu-skokom-u-rijeku-spasio-policajac) — CROATIA: Five Migrants Drowned in the River, Five Were Saved by a Policeman by Jumping Into the River
- [vecernji.ba](https://vecernji.ba/vijesti/uzas-na-granici-pet-mrtvih-pri-prelasku-kupe-policajci-i-gradani-iz-vode-izvukli-prezivjele-1998659) — Horror at the Border: Five Dead when Crossing the Kupa, Policemen and Citizens Pulled the Survivors Out of the Water
- [Telegram.hr](https://telegram.hr/vijesti/strasna-tragedija-na-kupi-utopilo-se-petero-migranata-policajci-i-gradani-spasili-ostale) — Terrible Tragedy on Kupa: Five Migrants Drowned, Police Officers and Citizens Saved the Others
- [dalmacijadanas.hr](https://dalmacijadanas.hr/drama-na-kupi-policajac-skocio-u-rijeku-i-spasavao-ljude-petero-se-utopilo) — Drama on Kupa: A Policeman Jumped Into the River and Saved People, Five Drowned
- [Slobodna Dalmacija](https://slobodnadalmacija.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/tragedija-na-granici-policajci-skocili-u-kupu-i-spasavali-migrante-petero-ih-se-utopilo-1580924) — Tragedy on Kupa: Policemen Rescued Migrants, Five of Them Drowned
- [Dalmatinski portal](https://dalmatinskiportal.hr/tragedija-u-kupi-se-utopilo-petero-migranata-14-ih-je-uspjelo-prijeci-u-sloveniju) — TRAGEDY: Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa, 14 of Them Managed to Cross to Slovenia
- [n1info.rs](https://n1info.rs/region/pet-osoba-se-utopilo-u-reci-kupi-u-hrvatskoj) — Five People Drowned in the Kupa River in Croatia
- [Večernji list](https://vecernji.hr/vijesti/petero-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-1998649) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa
- [Telegraf – Najnovije vesti](https://telegraf.rs/vesti/jugosfera/4403533-petoro-migranata-se-utopilo-u-kupi) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa
- [24sata.hr](https://24sata.hr/news/pet-migranata-utopilo-se-u-kupi-policajci-i-gradani-uspjeli-su-izvuci-i-spasiti-njih-petoricu-1156892) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa! The Policeman Jumped Into the River and Pulled Out Others, Saving Five People
- [Net.hr](https://net.hr/danas/crna-kronika/petero-migranata-se-utopilo-u-kupi-8bc74c53-b906-11f1-936f-9600040c8f8e) — Five Migrants Drowned in Kupa
- [Hospodárske Noviny](https://hnonline.sk/svet/96304385-pat-migrantov-sa-utopilo-v-rieke-na-hranici-medzi-chorvatskom-a-slovinskom) — Five Migrants Drown in River on Croatia-Slovenia Border
- [hrvatska-danas.com](https://hrvatska-danas.com/2026/09/25/uzas-kod-severina-na-kupi-policajci-i-gradani-spasavali-migrante-pet-ih-se-utopilo) — Horror Near Severin Na Kupi: Police and Citizens Rescue Migrants. Five drowned... - Croatia Today
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/world/2026/09/25/5-migrants-drown-while-crossing-from-croatia-and-slovenia) — 5 migrants drown while crossing from Croatia to Slovenia

## Questions

**How many migrants died in the river crossing?**

Five migrants drowned while trying to cross the Kupa/Kolpa river at the Croatia‑Slovenia border, according to statements from Croatian police and reported by all outlets covering the incident.

**How many migrants were rescued and who performed the rescue?**

Five migrants were rescued after a police officer who arrived first at the scene jumped into the river and helped pull them to safety. The rescue was carried out by the officer with assistance from other responders.

**What river did the incident occur on and what are its two names?**

The incident took place on the river known as Kupa in Croatia and Kolpa in Slovenia, which forms part of the natural border between the two countries.

**Is there an investigation into the drownings?**

Croatian police have opened a criminal investigation to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the drownings, as noted in later digests and statements.

---

MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/conflict/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Five migrants drown while crossing the Kupa/Kolpa river on the Croatia‑Slovenia border", https://mediabias.news/conflict/five-migrants-drown-while-crossing-the-kupakolpa-river-on-the-croatiaslovenia-bo