An unusually strong low pressure area spun over the Balkans last Thursday and Friday and unleashed torrential rainfall in Serbia and Bosnia, causing the worst flooding in 120 years. According to the UK Met Office, till now, rainfall figures are exceeding 4 inches (100mm), spreading across the Balkans. Statistically such heavy rainfall in a span of two to three days, occurs only once in 100 years.

One third of Bosnia, an area home to 1.2 million people, has been affected by the floods. And so far the resulting flood has claimed at least 35 lives, which is likely to rise in the coming days.

Currently this worst ever flood has triggered over 3,000 landslides, unearthing land mines remaining from Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war. A power plant in Obrenovac, in Serbia, that supplies electricity to Belgrade and a large part of the rest of the country, is also at risk.

Although the water has begun to recede in some areas there are fears of more surges from the Sava River which marks the border of Croatia and Bosnia and flows into the Danube River. Further down the Danube, are Romania and Bulgaria, which have only suffered minor floods so far. Here stronger surges are expected between May 22nd and 23rd.

This historic flooding originated from an unusually strong area of low pressure extending from the surface to high altitudes.  The spiraling weather system drew immense moisture from the Mediterranean and dumped heavy rain for more than two days.

Much of Serbia, Bosnia and eastern Croatia are under water and help is coming from across the region, the rest of Europe and Russia as well as Israel and Turkey.

In addition to unusual events of world weather, U.K is also headed for a torrential rain on Thursday when more than 3 inches of rain could fall in just 48 hours with widespread flash flooding, expected to be the worst thunderstorms since the 1960s.

Photo by usatoday.