Bulgaria to Send Water Pumps, Rescue Workers to Flood-Hit Serbia

Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, photo by BGNES

Bulgaria was among the first countries to offer Serbia assistance for coping with the damage caused by the heavy rains, according to EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva.

Georgieva's press office announced Friday that the Serbian authorities had sought cooperation under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, according to reports of the Bulgarian National Radio.

Bulgaria offered high-capacity water pumps and other drainage devices, as well as motorized rescue boats and a team of 26 rescuers and Serbia accepted the proposal.

Germany also vowed to provide high-capacity water pumps and 18 rescue workers to help Serbia cope with the flood damage.

Slovenia is also to send a team of 19 rescue workers, four specially equipped vehicles and two pumps for floodwater and sludge.

Torrential rains in Serbia over the past few days caused flooding, landslides, power supply outages and road closures.

According to recent reports of the local authorities, the floods claimed three lives and injured 20 people, with one person reported missing. A total of 6175 people were evacuated as part of the rescue operation.

The situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina is also critical due to heavy rains and flooding which caused numerous landslides and destroyed many houses.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!