21 dead as floods hit Macedonian capitalAugust 8, 2016 - 15:13 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 21 people have died in floods that hit the Macedonian capital, Skopje, following torrential rain, BBC News reports. The victims' bodies were found on Sunday, August 7 morning after the storm passed. Several people are still missing. Some of the victims drowned in their cars. Parts of the city's ring road were swept away in the floods, dragging cars into nearby fields. Three-and-a-half inches (93mm) of rain fell in Skopje in the storm - more than the average for the whole of August. The water level reached as high as five feet (1.5 metres) in some of the affected areas, reports said. "Everything was a mess. Televisions, the fridge, the sofa, everything was floating... it was a nightmare," said Baze Spriovski, a 43-year-old from Singelic in the outskirts of Skopje. Many homes remain flooded and without electricity; some are reported to have collapsed. The authorities have declared a crisis situation in Skopje and Tetovo for the next 15 days, the Macedonian Information Agency said. The Mayor of Skopje, Koce Trajanovski, said: "This is a disaster. We have never experienced such a thing." "There were thunderbolts with lightning almost every second. It was really horrific," said Biljana Joneska, 62, in Skopje. Local media reported that ambulances were called out 65 times across the city, more than 20 people were treated in hospital, and the army was called in to help. Three villages in the north-east of the country were cut off because of landslides. Police said about 70 vehicles were stuck because of one such incident between the villages of Stajkovci and Radisani. Health authorities have advised residents in the worst hit areas to use only bottled water or water from public authority cisterns for drinking and cooking. Related links: Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Macron says France commemorates 109th anniv. of Armenian genocide Today France commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915, Macron says. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. |