Three people tragically lost their lives in Serbia as a second deadly storm swept through the Balkans this week, causing widespread destruction and chaos in its wake. The storm first struck Slovenia before moving on to Croatia and then Serbia and Bosnia, leaving a trail of devastation behind. With powerful gusts of wind and heavy rainfall, the region experienced power outages, fallen trees, destroyed cars, and damaged rooftops.
The severity of these storms has been attributed to a series of scorching hot days preceding them. Meteorologists have pointed to the influence of climate change, which is believed to be intensifying extreme weather conditions.
In Serbia's northern city of Novi Sad, a 12-year-old child was found dead in the streets during the storm. The circumstances surrounding the child's death remain uncertain, as it is unclear whether the child was struck by lightning or electrocuted. Novi Sad was hit particularly hard, with the city's exhibition hall suffering damage to its roof. On July 22, many streets remained blocked in the morning following the storm, and about 30 people sought medical assistance.
In the village of Kovacica, located in northeastern Serbia, a woman tragically lost her life due to smoke inhalation. A fire broke out when lightning struck a tree near her house.
Serbian police reported yet another fatality in the northwestern town of Backa Palanka, where a man died while attempting to remove power cables that had fallen on his house gate.
Croatia also faced the wrath of the storm, exacerbating the damage caused by a previous storm just a few days before. The country's authorities were already working tirelessly to control the aftermath of the initial disaster. Throughout Croatia, various regions were severely affected, and several people sustained injuries at a tourist campsite in the northern Istria peninsula, which was filled with summer visitors from abroad. Croatia's Adriatic Sea coastline and islands, which attract millions of tourists annually, were not spared from the storm's fury.
Slovenia also suffered extensive damage, with its forests in the Alpine region being hugely affected. Authorities issued warnings about the potential for flash floods in the area.
Beyond the Balkans, the rest of Europe has been grappling with an ongoing heatwave, leading to wildfires and public health concerns.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Threads pages to keep up to date on world news.
Comments (0)