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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Breaking of embankment on Sava near TENT new threat to Obrenovac

Belgrade, 17 May 2014

Assistant Minister of the Interior and Head of the Staff for Emergency Situations Predrag Maric stated this morning that thousands of people in Serbia have been hit by floods and that more than 4,000 citizens have so far been evacuated from Obrenovac, but that more are left to be rescued and that their evacuation is today’s priority.

Maric said at a press conference in the Serbian government that until rivers have withdrawn, the authorities will not disclose the number of victims, but he confirmed that rescuers have begun to pull out bodies of first casualties.

From this, most critical point in Serbia, people can be evacuated only by boats and helicopters, and after the evacuation they are transferred to Belgrade by bus, where they are provided with accommodation, the head of the Staff for Emergency Situations said.

He warned that the embankment on the Sava River near TENT has broken in the length of 100 metres, and that if the dam is not repaired, on which the authorities are working intensively, the situation in Obrenovac will be much more difficult in the afternoon.

Maric said that more than 100 boats and helicopters of the Serbian Army and police are taking part in the rescue operation in Obrenovac.

He explained that the rescue activities were scheduled according to citizens' complaints, and they involved thousands of people who were in danger, whereas many pregnant women, weak and the sick are still awaiting evacuation.

In addition to rescuers from Russia, Bulgarian rescuers also came to help and they are on the field in Svilajnac, as well as Slovenian rescuers, and further help is expected to arrive from Austria and Germany, which will intensify the evacuation process.

When it comes to Sabac, a lot of work was done yesterday, Maric said, adding that during the night more than 6,000 citizens, members of the Ministry of the Interior and the Army of Serbia worked hard on the ground, which resulted in the defence of this city from the torrents.

Embankments at all critical points on the Sava River near Sabac are currently warding off the water impact, but the river is expected to rise so the defence of this city is the priority Maric concluded.