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A '1,000 Year' Flood Is Devastating Serbia And Stranding Thousands Of People [PHOTOS]

Michael Kelley   

A '1,000 Year' Flood Is Devastating Serbia And Stranding Thousands Of People [PHOTOS]
Science3 min read

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A Serbian army soldier rows a boat as he searches for people to be evacuated in the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade, May 16, 2014.

The worst rainfall to hit Serbia and Bosnia in 120 years has killed upwards of 37 people and threatened power plants across the Balkan region.

More than one million people - nearly one-fifth of the country's overall population - live in the affected areas. Thousands are evacuating as at least 95,000 homes are without power.

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REUTERS

"The situation is catastrophic," Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said. "These are the kind of waters not seen in 1,000 years, let alone 100."

About 300 landslides have complicated rescue efforts as houses and cars are being buried, bridges are crumbling, and roads have been rendered impassable.

Soldiers, police, and villagers are scrambling to fortify the perimeter of the Kostolac power plant, which lies east of the capital of Belgrade and supplies 20% of Serbia's electricity needs, as waters from nearby rivers creep closer.

The photos are stunning and show the heroic rescue effort underway.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

An aerial view of the flooded city of Brcko, May 18, 2014.

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REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

People carry their belongings as they evacuate from their flooded houses in Topcic Polje, near Zepce May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

Asim Skopljak talks on a mobile phone as he walks near a car stranded in mud on a street that was hit by floods in Topcic Polje, near Zepce May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Dado Ruvic

A vehicle stranded in mud is seen on a street that was hit by floods in Topcic Polje, near Zepce May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A member of the rescue team carries a women as they leave her flooded house in Topcic Polje, near Zepce May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

An aerial view of flooding in Orasje, May 18, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

An aerial view of the flooded city of Orasje May 18, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

People look out from their apartments as they wait to be evacuated in the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

People stand on a terrace of their flooded house as the wait to be evacuated in the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Serbian army soldiers evacuate people from a flooded house in the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade May 16, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

A Serbian rows a boat past flooded ambulance vehicles in the flooded town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade, Serbia May 17, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Serbian army soldiers evacuate a boy from a flooded house in the town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade, May 17, 2014.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Serbian army soldiers evacuate people in amphibious vehicles in the flooded town of Obrenovac, southwest of Belgrade May 17, 2014.

Residents of Obrenovac are now living in a temporary community in Belgrade.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica

Evacuees from the Serbian town of Obrenovac are seen lying on beds in a shelter hall in Belgrade, May 18, 2014.

The floods will devastate both the Serbian and Bosnian economies, which rely heavily on their agricultural sectors.

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REUTERS/Marko Djurica


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