PM appeals on citizens to comply and evacuate

PM appeals on citizens to comply and evacuate

An elderly person is feared missing, the authorities said.

Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić announced he would travel there and appealed on the citizens, during a statement he gave over the phone to an RTS news program, to comply and evacuate.

"I wish to ask the citizens, (the situation) is critical for the lives of people... I plead with people not to stand on the roofs and not to refuse help in evacuating. I plead with people not to force us to use force, because all we want is to rescue them. People from the special units, from the Gendarmerie, they're all there to rescue them and I will be there in an hour or two," said Vučić.

According to him, a large number of residents is in danger in Obrenovac.

"Life is what matters, we'll worry about property later. Do not stay on the roofs and high floors, they could collapse," Vučić said in his appeal.

According to Belgrade Police Administration chief Veselin Milić, Obrenovac is now the most threatened location in Serbia, and he also appealed on the citizens to evacuate.

According to Obrenovac Municipality President Miroslav Čučković, the situation is extremely difficult, with some citizens stranded in locations where even best trained special forces officers cannot reach them, and that a priority was to bring food and water to them. However, he was hopeful that the situation would be stabilized by the evening.

Belgrade Mayor Siniša Mali said that despite the fact that the whole of Obrenovac has been flooded, there was "no need to panic" as all services and all available means had been deployed to help the residents.

He added that Belgrade was working on preparations for an evacuation, should it occur, and in this sense had services such as buses, evacuation locations and health services on standby.

The mayor also said that soldiers, police officers, and Gendarmes were in Obrenovac, and will at noon be joined by a team of Russian rescuers.

The Interior Ministry said that citizens in need of assistance in the flooded areas can dial 112 using any mobile service operator. In addition, three more "evacuation hotlines" have been made available: 011 2741 157, 011 2289 208, and 011 2282 910.

The MUP said they are to be used to request evacuation, and not to seek information about the floods.