SARAJEVO, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Saturday lowered its national flags on public buildings to half-mast across the country, mourning eight youngsters who tragically perished on New Year's Eve in suspected gas poisoning.

Four men and four women, aged between 18 to 20, have been found dead in a vacation home near Posusje, some 150 km southwest of the capital Sarajevo, according to a government statement.

Local police were alarmed at 10 a.m. on Friday by the friends of the victims who celebrated in a house nearby.

According to the police in the West Herzegovina Canton, the autopsy will be carried out to determine the cause of death.

The investigators suspected the youngsters died from carbon monoxide poisoning while celebrating New Year, as they found a power generator still operating in a boiler room upon their arrival at the scene.

Many expressed their condolences to the families of the victims, including BiH Presidency Chairman Milorad Dodik, Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Zoran Tegeltija and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

"With grief, I received the news about the great tragedy that happened to you. I send you my deepest condolences," wrote Dodik, who is being treated in hospital for COVID-19.

"In these difficult moments for the families and friends of those lost, I would like to extend my deepest condolences on behalf of the Croatian government and the Croatian people," Plenkovic said. Enditem

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