Heavy machines deployed in eastern Serbia

BELGRADE - Heavy machines and engineering units of the Serbian Armed Forces were deloyed in eastern Serbia on Friday to help repair the damage caused by floods and landslides.

The situation is still very difficult in the village of Grabovac, where the water from the local resoervoir is receding slowly, head of the Interior Ministry crisis sector Predrag Maric has stated.

He said his people were working on getting stronger pumps, so life for the local population could be made easier.

Food and water are being supplied, heavy machines have been deployed and army engineering units are on the ground, which is something that will continue for a while, he noted.

Maric could not specify how long it would take to clear the area from debris deposited by the flood.

"Red Cross is managing and coordinating the distribution of food, water and other aid... it is very difficult to reach people in some places and some locations are accessible only by boat, so things are not moving at the pace we would like, but I think they will get to everyone," he stated.

Heavy rain that caused the floods and landslides in eastern Serbia covered the areas of Majdanpek, Negotin and Kladovo.

Photo Tanjug, S. Ilic (illustration, archive)