Heavy Storms Hit Serbia and Montenegro

Torrential rain and strong winds have caused power outages in parts of Montenegro and Serbia. 

A large part of Montenegro, including the capital Podgorica, was left in darkness for hours on Monday due to the failure of the electricity network. Power company Montenegrin Electric Transmission System said on Tuesday that it had deployed all its available teams to repair the damage.

A heavy storm hit the central and coastal regions of Montenegro on Monday, but meteorologists expect severe rains to ease off later on Tuesday, although a red alert is to remain in force through until Wednesday.

The Serbian towns of Majdanpek and Bor have also been hit by bad weather since Monday. Majdanpek and most of the villages in that municipality have had no electricity for over 15 hours.

Mobile phone coverage and heating has been cut in most of the Majdanpek region and  all kindergartens and schools are temporarily closed, the daily Blic repored. In Bor, several people were reported injured due to falls on the icy streets.

Serbian state roads company Putevi Srbije warned drivers that on Tuesday in some mountainous parts of the east of the country there will be stormy and hurricane-like winds, and that drivers should adjust their speed to the conditions.