17 May 2014
Last updated at 15:43 ET
Tens of thousands have fled their homes as several months of
rain fell in a few days and rivers burst their banks. Landslides have
buried houses.
In one Bosnian town alone, Doboj, the mayor said more than 20 bodies had been taken to the mortuary.
In Serbia, an outer suburb of the capital Belgrade has been inundated.
Tsunami-like
Bosnia and Serbia floods: Death toll rises
The BBC's Guy Delauney says forecasters are warning that Serbia's River Sava is set to peak again on Sunday evening
More than two dozen people are feared dead in Bosnia-Hercegovina and Serbia after the worst floods in more than a century.
In one Bosnian town alone, Doboj, the mayor said more than 20 bodies had been taken to the mortuary.
In Serbia, an outer suburb of the capital Belgrade has been inundated.
Tsunami-like
"More than 20 corpses have so far been brought to the city's
morgue," the mayor of Doboj, in the north-east, was quoted as saying.
The republic's police chief, Gojko Vasic, said the situation had been particularly difficult in Doboj "because the flood waters acted as a tsunami, three to four metres high. No-one could have resisted."
As waters began to recede in Doboj, authorities found more bodies
People wait to be evacuated from their flooded homes in Obrenovac, 40km from Belgrade
Tractors, boats and other forms of transport are being used to take people to safety
According to a spokesman for Bosnia's Security Ministry, about a million people - more than a quarter of the country's population - live in the affected area.
One of the worst-hit areas in Bosnia is the eastern town of Bijeljina where rescue teams are trying to transport 10,000 people to safety.
New surge
The republic's police chief, Gojko Vasic, said the situation had been particularly difficult in Doboj "because the flood waters acted as a tsunami, three to four metres high. No-one could have resisted."
As waters began to recede in Doboj, authorities found more bodies
People wait to be evacuated from their flooded homes in Obrenovac, 40km from Belgrade
Tractors, boats and other forms of transport are being used to take people to safety
Flood defences have gone up along the Sava river, as people brace for a fresh surge of floodwater
Observed from the air, almost a third of Bosnia, mostly its
north-east corner, resembled a huge muddy lake, with houses, roads and
rail lines submerged, the Associated Press reports.According to a spokesman for Bosnia's Security Ministry, about a million people - more than a quarter of the country's population - live in the affected area.
One of the worst-hit areas in Bosnia is the eastern town of Bijeljina where rescue teams are trying to transport 10,000 people to safety.
New surge
In Serbia, eight people were reported to have drowned.
A new flood surge was expected on the Sava river late on Sunday, he said.
In some areas, flood waters reached the second floor of people's homes.
"The flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded," one resident from Obrenovac said.
Rescue workers have been working to bring thousands of stranded residents to safety and officials have also ordered the evacuation of another town, Baric, closer to Belgrade.
The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defences there.
Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.
Continue reading the main story
Obrenovac resident"Flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded”
Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic
told reporters the first bodies had been recovered in Obrenovac, the
worst-hit area to the south-west of the capital, and he feared more
would be found.
But he said the number of deaths would not be made public until the waters had receded.A new flood surge was expected on the Sava river late on Sunday, he said.
In some areas, flood waters reached the second floor of people's homes.
"The flash floods woke my uncle at around 0330 so they went up to the first floor. Then they had to go to the third floor because all lower floors were flooded," one resident from Obrenovac said.
Rescue workers have been working to bring thousands of stranded residents to safety and officials have also ordered the evacuation of another town, Baric, closer to Belgrade.
The Sava river has risen particularly high in the western town of Sabac, and volunteers have tried to shore up flood defences there.
Rescue co-ordinator Predrag Maric appealed for food, water, and clothing to help those in need.
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From other news sites
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New Zealand Herald Balkan floods: Thousands flee, 25 die 1 hr ago
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ABC Online Serbia and Bosnia floods: More than 30 dead, thousands evacuated after days of record rainfall 2 hrs ago
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Channel NewsAsia At least 30 dead in massive flooding in Bosnia, Serbia 2 hrs ago
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Reuters UK UPDATE 2-More than 20 dead, thousands evacuated in Bosnia, Serbia floods 5 hrs ago
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The Independent Serbia and Bosnia floods: At least 20 dead in 'worst flooding since records began' 10 hrs ago
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