2014 Brings Worst Flooding in a Century
In May 2014, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina were hit with the heaviest rains and flooding in over a
century. Electricity was lost in several towns and villages. At least 44 people were killed in the flooding,
and authorities believed that the death toll could rise. Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksander Vucic
declared a state of emergency for the whole country. During a news conference, Vucic said, "This is
the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not only in the past 100 years; this has never happened in Serbia's
history."
In Bosnia, rivers surpassed record levels and army helicopters had to evacuate dozens stranded in
their homes in the town of Maglaj. Authorities could not reach Doboj, a town in northern Bosnia,
because all roads leading to the town were washed out. The government sent troops to central and
eastern towns where thousands had to be evacuated, their homes destroyed by the floods. Sarajevo
meteorologist Zeljko Majstorovic said, "This is the worst rainfall in Bosnia since 1894, when weather
measurements started to be recorded."
In Nov. 2014, the new presidency took office. Mladen Ivanić was named chairman of the presidency.
Dragan Čović and Bakir Izetbegović would serve with him as members of the presidency