Floods in Eastern Croatia Force Thousands to Flee

While Serbia and Bosnia are at the epicentre of the worst floods in the Balkans in over a century, neighbouring Croatia has not been left unscathed, especially in the east, near the Serbian border.

The worst affected areas are Slavonski Šamac and Županja in Croatia’s eastern Vukovar-Syrmia County.

Several villages near the town of Županja, such as Drenovci, Račinovci, Rajevo Selo and Gunja, are completely under water and, apart from a small number of residents who refused to leave, the whole population of these villages has been evacuated over the last two days.

The fact that some inhabitants ignored calls to evacuate has made the work of rescue teams more difficult, the authorities said.

“Unfortunately, some citizens didn’t listen to warnings from the last days, believing nothing bad would happen, so now it is important to listen to police commands, leave everything behind and save your lives,” the Minister of Interior, Ranko Ostojić, said.

In total, some 15,000 people have been evacuated from flood-stricken areas and at least two people are confirmed dead as a result of the deluge.

Heavy rain, causing rivers to overflow, struck Croatia on Saturday and Sunday. Although not as massive as in Bosnia and Serbia, the flood damage in the east is severe.

Trouble started on Saturday in Požega-Slavonia County, where the river Orljava overflowed and forced the evacuation of locals to the nearby town of Pleternica.

In Sisak-Moslavina County, south of Zagreb, water from river Una blocked roads from Hrvatska Kostajnica, on the border with Bosnia, to Dvor. As parts of Hrvatska Kostajnica sank under water, a state of emergency was declared in both Hrvatska Kostajnica and Dvor.

Locals in Slavonski Brod...