A severe thunderstorm that dumped torrential rain on the Macedonian capital, Skopje, has killed at least 20 people, Deputy Health Minister Nikola Todorov said Sunday.
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Special police forces and trucks loaded with drinking water have been sent to the worst affected areas, where there also have been some electricity outages and where scattered debris from homes can been seen on the streets, a Reuters reporter said. Parts of the city’s ring road were swept away in the floods, dragging cars into nearby fields.
Meterologists said the average amount of rainfall Skopje receives in August fell in just two hours and 800 lightning strikes were recorded.
MIA earlier had reported that six people were missing in the disaster, but so far no updates have been provided.
“There were thunderbolts with lightning nearly every second. It was really horrific”, said Biljana Joneska, 62, in Skopje.
Macedonia’s government declares state of emergency in parts of capital.
“We can officially report 17 people dead and just a while ago we have received the reports of three more deaths, so the total number will be probably 20 victims”, Todorov told reporters, adding that numerous injured had fractures and contusions.
The authorities have declared a crisis situation in Skopje and Tetovo for the next 15 days, the Macedonian Information Agency said.
They urged people to stay at home and to only drink bottled water.
The rain had stopped by Sunday morning and water levels receded and though there was more rain on Sunday evening – there were no reports of further flash flooding.
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The bridge connecting one island to the coast was closed and the highway linking the capital Zagreb to the southern coast was at times shut to lorries and large buses because of the winds.
