Macedonia storm: At least 20 die overnight in freak deluge

[DFighter]

Image copyrightEPAImage captionSome people died in their cars during the floods

At least 20 people have died as storms caused Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, to flood.

Their bodies were found before 8:30 (06:30 GMT) on Sunday, an official said. Six people are still missing.

Some of the victims drowned in their cars. Parts of the city's ring road have been 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.

Image copyrightEPAImage copyrightEPAImage copyrightEPAImage copyrightEPAImage copyrightEPA

The Mayor of Skopje, Kove Trajanovski, said: "This is a disaster. We have never experienced such a thing."

Local media reported that ambulances were called out 65 times across Skopje, more than 20 people were treated in hospital, and the army were called in to help.

Three villages in the north-east of the country were cut off due to landslides.

More rain is forecast for Sunday evening.

 

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-37002364