SKOPJE, Macedonia-Torrential rain and floods in the Macedonian capital have left at least 15 people dead, with six missing and 22 others sent to the hospital, police said Sunday.
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The city was hit by rainstorms accompanied by strong winds of more than 70 km/h.
A man passes damaged vehicles in the village of Stajkovci, near Skopje, on August 7, 2016, following overnight torrential rains and fierce storms.
Macedonia’s Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev pledged support to victims and cut a vacation short to visit Skopje, he said in a statement. Search and rescue operations are underway in the affected area. “Televisions, the fridge, the sofa, everything was floating.it was a nightmare”, said Baze Spriovski, a 43-year-old from Singelic in the outskirts of Skopje.
Mayor Koce Trajanovski described the damage from the storms as “the worst Skopje has ever seen”.
Meteorologists say similar weather with heavy rain and winds is expected during the week as well.
Special police, army units and firefighters have been sent to the worst-hit.
Heavy thunderstorms rolled through Skopje, Macedonia, and surrounding areas on Saturday night. “It was really horrific”, said Biljana Joneska, 62, in Skopje. They urged people to stay at home and to only drink bottled water. “More rain is possible early this week as the low passes through the Balkans”.
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Gabriella Andreevska, who lives in southern Macedonia, said people from unaffected areas are planning to travel to flooded regions to help out.
