Southeast and Central Europe floods

Important floods occurred in Central and Southeast Europe in middle May 2014, affecting four countries (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Romania) and causing at least 62 fatalities and more than one billion euros damages (StiriTV). Over 2000 landslides were induced by the floods across the Balkan area (Independent). Serbia was the most affected region follow-up by Bosnia and Herzegovina (respectively 33 [b92] and 24 fatalities [AlJazeera]). Those events are the heaviest rains and floods recorded in the past 120 years in these two countries, with more than 105 mm daily rain recorded in several major towns like Belgrad (Independent).

One of the main concerns of the authorities after the floods peak is that it remains more than 100’000 land mines across Bosnia and Herzegovin from the Bosnian War (1992-1995). Many of those have been dislodged by the extreme rains, floods and landslides and are now out of control (Independent, Reuters and AlJazeera) .

 

AP/Amel Emric
AP/Amel Emric