Balkan flooding leaves at least 20 people dead (Video)

More than 20 people in Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have been killed and thousands more displaced by the worst flooding to hit the Balkans in more than a century.

Experts warned Saturday that the death toll will rise, as authorities grapple with the effects of nearly four months’ worth of rain in the past three days in the central European region.

Mirsad Duratovic, representative of Biscani district, said overflowing of Sana River submerged many homes in the district.

“We have no electricity and drinking water. Fortunately, a few bakeries escaped of being submerged.” said Duratovic and slammed that civil defense and Red Cross crew had not visited Biscani yet.

Bosnian Armed Forces conducted evacuation efforts in several cities with four helicopters and settled 600 people in military barracks.

Elsewhere in Tuzla, Crvena Niva district, a landslide demolished eight homes and 40 residents were immediately evacuated.

Meanwhile, Bakir Izetbegovic, Bosnian president, who has been visiting the affected cities, including Zenitsa-Doboy Canton, on Saturday saying that more than 10,000 residents are expected to be evacuated across the country and roads and other infrastructures were damaged in many cities
Izetbegovic also said the German Armed Forces had dispatched 17 helicopters to the country to contribute to the rescue efforts in addition to the civil protection assistance sent by the European Commission at the request of Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Agencies/Canadajournal