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Catastrophic Floods Hit Balkans, Raising Fears for Land Mines and Power Plants Catastrophic Floods Hit Balkans, Raising Fears for Land Mines and Power Plants
(4 months later)
WARSAW — At least 33 people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Serbia and Bosnia during three days of torrential rains that fed the most intense flooding the region has seen since records began to be kept more than a century ago. WARSAW — At least 33 people have died and tens of thousands have been evacuated in Serbia and Bosnia during three days of torrential rains that fed the most intense flooding the region has seen since records began to be kept more than a century ago.
By Sunday, thousands of landslides had swept away homes and turned idyllic hillside communities into cascades of muck and debris. Farm fields were washed away, coal mines flooded. Bridges were knocked from their moorings and sent floating down swollen rivers like barges. Nearly 100,000 people were without power in Serbia alone, officials said, as workers scrambled to protect the country’s two largest power stations from rising waters.By Sunday, thousands of landslides had swept away homes and turned idyllic hillside communities into cascades of muck and debris. Farm fields were washed away, coal mines flooded. Bridges were knocked from their moorings and sent floating down swollen rivers like barges. Nearly 100,000 people were without power in Serbia alone, officials said, as workers scrambled to protect the country’s two largest power stations from rising waters.
“These are the kind of waters not seen in 1,000 years, let alone 100,” Aleksandar Vucic, prime minister of Serbia, said during a cabinet meeting televised to his anxious citizens.“These are the kind of waters not seen in 1,000 years, let alone 100,” Aleksandar Vucic, prime minister of Serbia, said during a cabinet meeting televised to his anxious citizens.
An amount of rain that would normally fall on this part of the Balkans in three months had fallen in three days. “The situation is catastrophic,” Mr. Vucic told reporters.An amount of rain that would normally fall on this part of the Balkans in three months had fallen in three days. “The situation is catastrophic,” Mr. Vucic told reporters.
Officials in Serbia said at least a dozen were killed in Obrenovac, 22 miles southwest of the capital, Belgrade, and five others died elsewhere in the country. Officials in Bosnia put the toll there at 15 dead, nine of them in the northern town of Doboj, where the Bosna River burst its banks. One person was reported dead in Croatia. Officials in all three nations said they expected the death toll to rise.Officials in Serbia said at least a dozen were killed in Obrenovac, 22 miles southwest of the capital, Belgrade, and five others died elsewhere in the country. Officials in Bosnia put the toll there at 15 dead, nine of them in the northern town of Doboj, where the Bosna River burst its banks. One person was reported dead in Croatia. Officials in all three nations said they expected the death toll to rise.
“Bosnia is facing a horrible catastrophe,” Bakir Izetbegovic, chairman of that country’s three-member presidency, told reporters while surveying the damage in the Maglaj, beside the swollen Bosna River. “We are still not fully aware of the actual dimensions of the catastrophe.”“Bosnia is facing a horrible catastrophe,” Bakir Izetbegovic, chairman of that country’s three-member presidency, told reporters while surveying the damage in the Maglaj, beside the swollen Bosna River. “We are still not fully aware of the actual dimensions of the catastrophe.”
Zeljka Cvijanovic, prime minister of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb region, reached back to the region’s devastating civil war for a comparison. “The damage is such that we cannot recall even after the 1992-95 war,” she said.Zeljka Cvijanovic, prime minister of Bosnia’s autonomous Serb region, reached back to the region’s devastating civil war for a comparison. “The damage is such that we cannot recall even after the 1992-95 war,” she said.
Officials also worried that the flooding had dislodged some of the estimated 100,000 land mines still believed to be buried in the region and had swept away warning signs marking some of the 9,000 known minefields.Officials also worried that the flooding had dislodged some of the estimated 100,000 land mines still believed to be buried in the region and had swept away warning signs marking some of the 9,000 known minefields.
The waters were receding in much of the region on Sunday, after cresting the day before, but parts of western Serbia — particularly around the Sava River — were still expecting waters to rise through the night.The waters were receding in much of the region on Sunday, after cresting the day before, but parts of western Serbia — particularly around the Sava River — were still expecting waters to rise through the night.
The receding waters revealed a landscape of mud, toppled trees, smashed buildings and twisted wreckage. An Associated Press photographer flying over the region said that much of northeast Bosnia had been reduced to a lake of mud.The receding waters revealed a landscape of mud, toppled trees, smashed buildings and twisted wreckage. An Associated Press photographer flying over the region said that much of northeast Bosnia had been reduced to a lake of mud.
An estimated 90 percent of Obrenovac, the hardest-hit town in Serbia, had been flooded. Evacuations continued throughout the day there and in the nearby town of Baric.An estimated 90 percent of Obrenovac, the hardest-hit town in Serbia, had been flooded. Evacuations continued throughout the day there and in the nearby town of Baric.
“Our primary concern is to protect the power plant,” Prime Minister Vucic told reporters. “We are doing all we can.”“Our primary concern is to protect the power plant,” Prime Minister Vucic told reporters. “We are doing all we can.”
Obrenovac is home to the Nikola Tesla power plant, the largest in Serbia, which remained under threat. Workers were also struggling to divert floodwaters from the Kostolac power plant, on the Danube River east of Belgrade, which officials said provided about a fifth of Serbia’s electricity.Obrenovac is home to the Nikola Tesla power plant, the largest in Serbia, which remained under threat. Workers were also struggling to divert floodwaters from the Kostolac power plant, on the Danube River east of Belgrade, which officials said provided about a fifth of Serbia’s electricity.
While cities and villages throughout the region had been ordered to evacuate — with rescue crews from across Europe using helicopters, canoes and bulldozers to carry people from the stricken areas — a significant problem remained those who had refused to leave their homes, including many elderly people.While cities and villages throughout the region had been ordered to evacuate — with rescue crews from across Europe using helicopters, canoes and bulldozers to carry people from the stricken areas — a significant problem remained those who had refused to leave their homes, including many elderly people.
An estimated 10,000 soldiers were delivering food and medical supplies to the region as rescue crews from Russia, Slovenia and Luxembourg worked alongside local teams. Britain, Austria and Macedonia were also sending help. Israel promised relief supplies.An estimated 10,000 soldiers were delivering food and medical supplies to the region as rescue crews from Russia, Slovenia and Luxembourg worked alongside local teams. Britain, Austria and Macedonia were also sending help. Israel promised relief supplies.
And there were calls for more help. Novak Djokovic, one of the world’s top tennis players, and a Serb, posted a message on Twitter from the Italian Open in Rome: “Support all! Let’s help those in need! Join the aid campaign!”And there were calls for more help. Novak Djokovic, one of the world’s top tennis players, and a Serb, posted a message on Twitter from the Italian Open in Rome: “Support all! Let’s help those in need! Join the aid campaign!”