PM visits flood threatened areas in eastern Croatia

Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic visited the eastern town of Vukovar on Monday to inspect the situation in that town in expectation of flood waters heading towards Croatia from central Europe, saying that preparations seemed to be going well and that he hoped the flood wave would not be as extreme as expected.
 

This is the first time that anyone can remember such a huge flood wave and it is necessary to be prepared for it. This is a red alert situation and regular preparations are being made, the people are ready and it is my duty to come and give them my support, he said while visiting Croatian soldiers involved in preparing flood barriers in the town.

Asked by reporters if Vukovar Mayor Zeljko Sabo could expect support from the government once the flood wave subsides, Milanovic said that citizens could count on that.

The PM was accompanied by Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic and Agriculture Minister Tihomir Jakovina, whom journalists asked how much these activities would cost. Jakovina said that it was not a matter of cost but that it was important to protect citizens and their property.

The civil defence unit in the town reported that it was expected that the water level of the Danube would be around 6.30 metres by evening and that the red alert would be sounded once it reached 6.80 m. The peak is expected in about three days time, civil defence leader Zoran Djurovic said.

Defence operations are being enhanced in five spots along the Danube that are potential threats.

"Forecasts of more rain on Thursday and Friday are worrying and could raise the water level, which could cause complications to the sewage system", Djurovic said.

Currently around 1,000 people are involved in the defence preparations and if need be several dozens of volunteers are ready to fill more sandbags and several hundred citizens are on stand-by.

(Hina)
 

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