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| Macedonia storm: Deadly freak floods hit Skopje | Macedonia storm: Deadly freak floods hit Skopje |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At least 21 people have died in floods that hit the Macedonian capital, Skopje, following torrential rain. | At least 21 people have died in floods that hit the Macedonian capital, Skopje, following torrential rain. |
| The victims' bodies were found on Sunday morning after the storm passed. Several people are still missing. | The victims' bodies were found on Sunday 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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 authorities have declared a crisis situation in Skopje and Tetovo for the next 15 days, the Macedonian Information Agency said. |
| The Mayor of Skopje, Kove Trajanovski, said: "This is a disaster. We have never experienced such a thing." | The Mayor of Skopje, Kove 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. | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |