Floods across Republika Srpska, no casualties

SARAJEVO - Almost the entire territory of Republika Srpska (RS), the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has been hit by floods, but there are no casualties, RS Parliament Speaker Nebojsa Radojicic has said.

The town of Doboj and the areas along the Bosna and Drina rivers are where the situation is the most difficult, with rescue teams providing assistance to the afflicted population, Radojicic said late Thursday at an extraordinary press conference in the Republika Srpska government building.

Most distress calls came from Doboj, and saving human lives is the priority, the media quoted Radojicic as saying.

The situation in the Bijeljina area has worsened, too, due to the rising level of the Drina river, he said, adding that the Vrbas river is also rising near Banjaluka, leaving some towns flooded, with a bridge in Prijecani crushed by the water.

In some areas, assistance could not be provided and helicopters were sent to rescue the population, in particular patients in dangerous conditions.

Due to heavy rainfall and floods, a state of emergency has been declared in Prnjavor after it was estimated that the situation in the municipality has worsened since the introduction of urgent flood defence measures some ten days ago.

A landslide hit eight homes in Podgaj in the Sarajevo municipality of Vogosca, leaving several people injured.

EUFOR troops are on standby to help the Bosnia and Herzegovina authorities in the flood-stricken areas once the weather conditions improve, Radojicic said.

Photo Tanjug/STR

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