Fifteen people died in flash floods overnight in the Macedonian capital of Skopje and six more were missing, state news agency MIA quoted police as saying.
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“As of 8:30 this morning (0630 GMT), we have discovered 15 victims (of the storms)”.
“This is a disaster, we have never experienced such a thing”, said Skopje’s Mayor Koce Trajanovski.
The hydro-meteorological service said meanwhile that more heavy rains are expected on Sunday afternoon.
Local media reported that ambulances were called out 65 times across Skopje, more than 20 people were treated in hospital, and the army were called in to help. Cars were seen swept away by the torrents, testifying to the force of the storm.
Police in Skopje counted at least 20 people dead and six missing by Sunday noon, majority killed in the outskirts of the capital in the villages of Stajkovci, Singelic, Smilkovci and Aracinovo, where water reportedly washed cars off the streets and flooded and destroyed houses.
Reports said the water level reached as high as 1.5 metres (five feet) in parts of the affected suburbs.
Northern suburbs of Skopje were particularly hard hit, with many homes flooded.
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There were also flash floods in the city centre.
