Hundreds Evacuated As Floods Hit Serbia

Heavy rain that started on Tuesday night and has not stopped since then has blocked most major roads in Serbia, while emergency situations have been declared in 18 municipalities.

The most critical situation is in central Serbia, in the town of Cacak, where around 160 homes have been evacuated and most roads in the area are blocked.

On Wednesday night, according to official data, around 500 people were evacuated.

“Evacuation of people is continuing, especially in [the towns of] Valjevo, Kosjeric, Preljina and all along the rivers Kolubara and Morava,” Predrag Maric, head of the emergency services sector, told BETA news agency.

One person was reported drowned in the Belgrade area.

“We have the first victim. In Umcari, one person drowned who didn’t listen to the authorities, which advised people to leave their homes. Our goal is to avoid such cases in the future,” the Mayor of Belgrade, Sinisa Mali, said.

Authorities say it is the worst rain to hit Serbia in a century. Data show that on Wednesday alone 55 litres of rain fell on one square metre. This is the same amount of rain that usually falls in a month or even more.

Pupils in elementary and high schools in the capital are also being told not to go to school due to the flooding on the roads. In some municipalities in Belgrade rising rivers flooded homes and apartments.

Railway traffic between Belgrade and Nis in southern Serbia is suspended, while one of the main north-south highways in Serbia is also closed.

According to announcements, the rain should stop during the weekend.