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Serbian government approves help for flooded areas

A man walks in front of a his flooded home in the village of Grdica, Serbia, Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Hundreds of people had to evacuate their homes, while hundreds of houses remained under threat, police said. In several villages and towns, entire areas have been left without electricity or water, and some schools canceled classes for the day. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) A man walks in front of a his flooded home in the village of Grdica, Serbia, Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Hundreds of people had to evacuate their homes, while hundreds of houses remained under threat, police said. In several villages and towns, entire areas have been left without electricity or water, and some schools canceled classes for the day. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

By Associated Press March 8, 2016 1 min read

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) – Serbia’s government has declared emergency measures to help more than a dozen municipalities where swollen rivers have flooded hundreds of homes, farmland and roads this week.

The government said Tuesday that emergency measures have been declared in 15 areas after 710 houses were soaked by the floods caused by torrential rains.

Heavy rainfall has also caused landslides, blocking local roads in central and southwestern Serbia. Some areas have been left without water and electricity.

In the central town of Kraljevo, emergency crews were helping residents stranded in their flooded homes. Resident Stanojla Pajevic says “all that water came here into the houses” Monday. Pajevic says her house was also flooded in 2014 when Serbia was hit by flooding that killed dozens.

More rain is expected later this week.