Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
STATES OF EMERGENCY 
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Dozens killed, 85,000 Evacuated, Many Homes Destroyed, States of Emergency Declared in Bosnia, Serbia

The worst flooding ever recorded across the Balkans have submerged Serbia and Bosnia, killing at least two dozen people and forcing tens of thousands to flee their homes.

More than 300,000 households were without power across the two countries and Poland.

“This is a catastrophe. Nature has never been so cruel to us,” declared Serbian Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic. [Clearly, Mr Antic doesn’t read this blog. Editor]]

The government of Bosnia-Herzegovina declared a state of disaster on Thursday after extreme rain events caused rivers to burst their banks flooding a large number of infrastructure, housing facilities and agricultural areas.

Flooding also triggered numerous landslides in the mountainous regions, burying entire communities, destroying roads and bridges.

Floodwaters left many parts of Serbia isolated, accessible only by boat.

“This is the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not just in the past 100 years; this has never happened in Serbia’s history,” Serbia’s Prime Minister told reporters.

“More rain fell in one day than in four months,” he said.

Serbia declared a state of emergency across the country Thursday, and asked for international help, as rescuers continued to evacuate tens of thousands of people by boat, most of them from the rooftops.

Meanwhile, Bosnia’s Center for the Removal of Landmines warned that mines laid during the 1992-95 war could be dislodged by floods and landslides, Reuters reported.

Several towns in Serbia, including Krupanj in the Mačva District (population; 5,000) have been almost completely destroyed.

More than 800 landslides have occurred across the deluged region.

Cost of Damage

FIRE-EARTH Models estimate the total cost of damage caused by flooding and landslides in the Balkans at more than $2 billion, based on initial reports, as of posting. The estimate includes the cost of flood damage to Tamnava coal mines, in the Kolubara coal basin.

Links to Recent Historic Floods

• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014