20 people die in Macedonian freak flood
No fewer than 20 people have died in floods that hit
the Macedonian capital, Skopje, following torrential
rain.
The victims’ bodies were found yesterday morning
after the storm passed. Several people are still
missing.
According to the BBC, some of the victims drowned
in their cars. Parts of the city’s ring road were
swept away in the floods, dragging cars into nearby
fields.
Three-and-a-half inches (93mm) of rain fell in
Skopje in the storm – more than the average for the
whole of August.
The water level reached as high as five feet (1.5
metres) in some of the affected areas, reports said.
“Everything was a mess. Televisions, the fridge, the
sofa, everything was floating… it was a nightmare,”
said Baze Spriovski, a 43-year-old from Singelic in
the outskirts of Skopje.
Many homes remained flooded and without
electricity; some are reported to have collapsed.
The authorities have declared a crisis situation in
Skopje and Tetovo for the next 15 days, the
Macedonian Information Agency said.
The Mayor of Skopje, Kove Trajanovski, said: “This
is a disaster. We have never experienced such a
thing.”
“There were thunderbolts with lightning almost
every second. It was really horrific,” said Biljana
Joneska, 62, in Skopje.
Local media reported that ambulances were called
out 65 times across the city, more than 20 people
were treated in hospital, and the army was called in
to help.
Three villages in the north-east of the country were
cut off because of landslides.
Police said about 70 vehicles were stuck because of
one such incident between the villages of Stajkovci
and Radisani.
Health authorities have advised residents in the
worst hit areas to use only bottled water or water
from public authority cisterns for drinking and
cooking.
More rain was predicted for yesterday evening.
the Macedonian capital, Skopje, following torrential
rain.
The victims’ bodies were found yesterday morning
after the storm passed. Several people are still
missing.
According to the BBC, some of the victims drowned
in their cars. Parts of the city’s ring road were
swept away in the floods, dragging cars into nearby
fields.
Three-and-a-half inches (93mm) of rain fell in
Skopje in the storm – more than the average for the
whole of August.
The water level reached as high as five feet (1.5
metres) in some of the affected areas, reports said.
“Everything was a mess. Televisions, the fridge, the
sofa, everything was floating… it was a nightmare,”
said Baze Spriovski, a 43-year-old from Singelic in
the outskirts of Skopje.
Many homes remained flooded and without
electricity; some are reported to have collapsed.
The authorities have declared a crisis situation in
Skopje and Tetovo for the next 15 days, the
Macedonian Information Agency said.
The Mayor of Skopje, Kove Trajanovski, said: “This
is a disaster. We have never experienced such a
thing.”
“There were thunderbolts with lightning almost
every second. It was really horrific,” said Biljana
Joneska, 62, in Skopje.
Local media reported that ambulances were called
out 65 times across the city, more than 20 people
were treated in hospital, and the army was called in
to help.
Three villages in the north-east of the country were
cut off because of landslides.
Police said about 70 vehicles were stuck because of
one such incident between the villages of Stajkovci
and Radisani.
Health authorities have advised residents in the
worst hit areas to use only bottled water or water
from public authority cisterns for drinking and
cooking.
More rain was predicted for yesterday evening.
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