by Richard Davies, floodlist

Severe flooding impacted multiple areas of Serbia, Kosovo and Romania during June 2023.  At least 3 people died in flash floods in Kosovo and Romania. In Serbia dozens of municipalities declared an emergency situation due to the impact of flooding following two weeks of heavy rain.

Serbia

Several local streams and rivers broke their banks after heavy rain between 04 to 06 June 2023, flooding fields and roads. According to the Red Cross, the municipalities of Loznica, Šabac, Babušnica, Aleksinac, Grocka, Aleksandrovac, Kuršumlija, Čačak, Brus, and Vrnjačka Banja.

Further heavy rain fell across the country from 10 to 18 June 2023. The Ministry of Internal Affairs Emergency Situations Sector in Serbia reported dozens of people were evacuated or rescued during this time. By 17 June, over 50 municipalities and cities had declared an emergency situation, including the capital, Belgrade.

According to the Red Cross, as of 16 June, more than 15,432 people from 5,144 households were affected by floods in Serbia.

Among the hardest hit were communities in Pomoravlje district (2,276 households affected), Zaječar district (531 households), Pirot district (270 households), Mačva district (258 households), and Rasina district (250 households).

The Red Cross said the affected households faced substantial damage to residential properties, the essential infrastructure required for daily activities, and the livelihoods of the local population.  As many as 1,700 homes suffered damage.

Kosovo

Flooding also affected parts of neighbouring Kosovo* during this period.  Some homes and a bridge were damaged in the municipality of Lipjan on 02 June. Minor flooding impacted areas of Podujeva District on 14 June.

Severe flooding occurred in the municipality of Peja after a short burst of torrential rain on 24 June. The Hydrometeorological Institute of Kosovo (Instituti Hidrometeorologjik i Kosovës) reported 54.6 mm of rain fell in just over 1 hour during the evening of 24 June. This amount of rainfall in such a short period inevitably caused flooding, in particular in urban areas, the Institute said.

Flood waters swept through the streets of Peja, where two people died and two were seriously injured. In a statement on the situation, the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, expressed her shock at the events and offered her condolences.

Romania

Similar destructive flooding occurred in Arad County in Romania on 25 June 2023. Vehicles were swept away and homes flooded. Roads were left strewn with downed trees, mud and flood debris. Residents of flooded homes moved to higher floors for safety.

The Department for Emergency Situations said the body of a man reported missing after he was his home was flooded was found approximately 5 km from the house.

Iustin Cionca, President of the Arad County Council, said “A catastrophe of this magnitude has never been recorded here before.” He said that communities in Buceava-Șoimuș, Gurahonț, Brazii and Mădrigești have all been severely impacted.

More than 60 houses and 3 km of road have been damaged or destroyed. At least 8 people had to be rescued. Several dozen families will have to be evacuated, according to the president.

The Department for Emergency Situations also reported significant flooding Hunedoara County at this time.

*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.