Torrential rain and heavy winds that hit the Macedonian capital Skopje on Saturday night left at least 20 dead, six missing and 22 people hospitalized, police confirmed.
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Dozens were sent to hospitals for medical assistance.
Destroyed vehicles and flooded houses are pictured after an overnight storm, in the village of Singelic, just east of Skopje, Macedonia, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016.
Many homes flooded and damaged due to the storm.
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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In one day or less, some residents experienced more than three times the rainfall they normally receive in a month, CNN meteorologists reported.
Macedonia’s Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev pledged support to victims and cut a vacation short to visit Skopje, he said in a statement.
Special police, army units and firefighters have been sent to the worst-hit.
IN PICTURES: Trucks burn after lightning strike. “It was really horrific”, said Biljana Joneska, 62, in Skopje.
Authorities urged people to stay at home and to only drink bottled water.
The last time Skopje experienced disastrous flooding was in 1962, a year before an natural disaster nearly destroyed the city. The shower or thunderstorm chance should be more spotty in nature and not be strong like storms earlier in the week.
A total of 1.6 million people were affected.
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The forecast for Sunday showed unsettled weather in landlocked Macedonia, with possible new showers and strong winds.
