Serbia declares state of emergency following heavy floods

A state of emergency was declared in Serbia on Thursday after heavy floods killed three people, damaged houses, roads and electricity networks across the country. The decision to declare an emergency was made by the government after assessing the damage in around 20 municipalities in Serbia. Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic appealed to people to give up trying to save their property by themselves and to leave their belongings and cattle "as people are priority." More than 600 people have been evacuated from their homes by rescuers, military and police. Around 300 houses are flooded while more than 500 are in danger, the police stated. Traffic has been halted along local roads, while international railway lines to Greece and Montenegro were stopped due to flooding on the tracks in several places. About 100,000 households across the country have no electric power, either because of damaged infrastructure or because of the preventive measures. Several hundred schools also closed. In many places, locals have been left without drinking water as trucks carrying supplies could not access their homes. Three people have lost their lives in the floods: two victims and one rescuer. Heavy rains, which started on May 14, are expected to last until the end of the week.