Serbia Declares State of Emergency over Major Flooding

A man stands near house damaged by flooding and landslides in Krupanj on May 20, 2014,

Published 12 March 2016

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People in Serbia fear a crisis similar to the 2014 floods that killed more than 60 people and caused damages of US$1.67 billion.

The Serbian government has declared a state of emergency Friday as heavy rains are causing widespread flooding and might force thousands to leave their homes.

The police issued a statement saying that more than 700 homes were already flooded across the country, with 170 people needing to be moved for their safety.

The latest floods in Serbia pic.twitter.com/sq19U7BIRt
— Serbian World (@SerbianWorld) March 9, 2016

The floods awaken fears as it comes less than two years after that the country experienced the heaviest rainfall in more than a century. In 2014 floods swept away roads, bridges, and homes. More than 62 people died and damage was estimated at 1.5 billion euros (US$1.67 billion).

A bridge in Novi Pazar carried away by a water torrent. 100 people wait for urgent evacuation #SerbiaFloods pic.twitter.com/vG8K1PANa2
— Sava Janjic (@SavaJanjic) March 8, 2016

Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the greatest damage back then, experiencing the heaviest rain in 120 years. More than 1.6 million people were affected after just one week of flooding.

#poplave #novipazar pic.twitter.com/ZeqWUef1j4
— Adel Zekovic (@AdelZekovic) March 7, 2016

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic was criticised for his late reaction to meteorologists' warnings in 2014, which is why Serbia's interior minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic, told B92 TV this week “This time we are declaring a state of emergency preventatively."