SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina
At least 19 people drowned after heavy rainfall since Thursday triggered floods in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Serbia, officials said.
Rescue teams recovered 14 more bodies across several cities Saturday after the region's worst flooding disaster forced thousands to evacuate their homes.
Officials say 20 people have been injured and over 300,000 homes are experiencing electricity cuts.
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.
The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency and the Turkish Red Cresent are also sending aid, including food, blankets, kitchen utensils and boots to the regions affected by the floods.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
