Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Bosnian people prepare sandbags to protect the city from flooding near Orasje 200 kms north of Sarajevo AP/Press Association Images
Rainfall

More flooding expected in the Balkans as rivers reach new peaks

Some 50,000 people have been evacuated in Bosnia and Serbia, with an additional 15,000 in Croatia.

THE BALKANS ARE braced for swollen rivers to reach new peaks today, raising fears of more damage after the worst floods in a century.

The death toll now stands at 45 people, with tens of thousands having fled the region.

Muddy waters from the Sava River have submerged houses, churches, mosques and roads in Bosnia and Serbia after record rainfall wreaked havoc across the central European region and the waterway was expected to swell to new highs on Monday.

Some 50,000 people have been evacuated in Bosnia and Serbia, with an additional 15,000 in Croatia.

With some towns completely cut off by the torrents, fear rose that the death toll could rise significantly once rescue teams were able to move in.

“What happened to us happens once in a thousand years,” Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said on Sunday.

Rescuers told of wrenching scenes as they finally reached cut-off villages, with dozens of people huddling at the highest houses with no water or food.

Besides the flooding, the worst rainfall since records began in the late 19th century, also caused landslides that brought more destruction, prompted landmine warnings and closed numerous border crossings.

The dikes built by thousands of volunteers along the Sava River and around the Nikola Tesla power plant managed to hold overnight, Serbian state-run RTS television reported.

The plant, which produces some 50 percent of Serbian electricity, was surrounded by water.

Humanitarian aid, technical equipment and teams from Russia, the European Union, the United States and neighbouring Montenegro and Macedonia were pouring in, authorities said.

 © – AFP, 2014

Read: Belgrade braced for massive “flooding wave” as disaster death toll tops 44 >

More: Bosnian Serb ex-army chief’s defence case opens against charges of genocide >

Your Voice
Readers Comments
11
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.