Serbia observes three days of mourning

Serbia observes three days of mourning

BELGRADE -- The Serbian government on Tuesday decided to declare three days of mourning in the country due to the number of victims in the disastrous flooding.

The proposal came from Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić. The days of mourning will be observed on May 21, 22, and 23.

The decision was adopted unanimously, and is in force starting on Wednesday.

Vučić explained his proposal by saying that many people died in the floods, and that once the waters recede, the number will "certainly be even higher."

He told the cabinet that 14 people died in the town of Obrenovac, and that some of the victims drowned, while others died of natural causes.

It was announced on Tuesday that the total number of victims was 22.

Vučić also announced that a decision will be made by Friday on whether to lift a state of emergency that is in force in the entire territory of the Republic.