Storm causes problems in several municipalities, houses at risk, several road routes closed

Due to heavy rainfall in the past 24 hours, several roads have been closed across Montenegro, and water is threatening many homes.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that the consequences of heavy rainfall were recorded in the municipalities of Nikšić, Danilovgrad, Mojkovac, Bijelo Polje, Ulcinj, Pljevlja, Podgorica, Kolašin and Berane.

VIDEO Jelena Jovanovic

In Danilovgrad, due to heavy rainfall, houses in the village of Sekulići were flooded and 15 road routes were closed – Pričelje, Bandići and in the settlement of Mala in Spuž, Frutak road towards Ždrebaonik, bridge in the village of Dobro Polje, bridge over Brestica. Road DG - NK, Orja luka closed.

VIDEO Jelena Jovanovic

Water has entered some households, and some catering facilities have also been flooded.

Due to landslides and river overflows, traffic was suspended on several road routes, including the regional roads Đurđevića Tara–Mojkovac, Danilovgrad–Glava Zete, Podgorica–Danilovgrad in the town of Orja Luka, as well as on the Kolašin–Berane road via the Klisura tunnel.

VIDEO Viber/PatrolaCG

In Podgorica, the Širalija bridge in Rogami has been closed, and several buildings are at risk in the Mareza settlement.

In Nikšić, there are endangered houses in the settlements of Grebica and Duklo.

The water is receding in Bijelo Polje, previously the Lim, Ljuboviđa and Ćehotina rivers, as well as some streams, overflowed.

In Ulcinj, four buildings on Ada Bojana are at risk.

In Pljevlja, the Breznica, Maočnica and Vezničica rivers overflowed. In the Municipality of Pljevlja, the Ćehotina river also overflowed. Last night, the dam in Otilovići overflowed and the river overflowed into its old riverbed. The water reached the houses of the Ivanovićs in the Pilana settlement.

In Mojkovac, the Tara River overflowed in the village of Prošćenje and traffic was suspended. The Mojkovac-Đurđević Tara road to the village of Sokolovine is closed due to a landslide. Traffic was stopped in the villages of Slatina and Kaludra due to the Tara River overflowing. Kolašin-Rovačko Trebaljevo - Tara River overflow closed

Berane - road closure in Lubnica due to deterioration of road infrastructure.

In the territory of Cetinje, the Protection and Rescue Services are pumping out water from several facilities.

"In the past 24 hours, the 112 Operational and Communication Center has received over 450 calls. Citizens most often reported flooded properties and buildings, as well as problems with traffic," the Ministry of Interior announced.

According to the latest 15 p.m. cutoff, all river water levels are decreasing except for the Zeta River and Skandarsko Lake.

"When it comes to the hydrological situation, the Operational Communication Center 112 is in constant communication with the Electric Power Company of Montenegro and monitors the situation at the reservoirs. Also, OKC 112 is in communication with the competent authorities in the Republic of Albania regarding information on the level of water discharge from dams on the Drim River, in order to monitor the situation with the water levels of the Bojana River and Lake Skadar," the Ministry of Internal Affairs pointed out.

In the past 24 hours, the 112 Operations and Communications Center has received over 450 calls.

They add that all local competent services are on the ground, that the Municipal Protection and Rescue Teams are active, from the affected municipalities, and are monitoring the situation on the ground.

"The Directorate for Protection and Rescue of the Ministry of Internal Affairs continues to monitor the situation on the ground and informs the public that this situation can significantly complicate the performance of daily activities and cause certain consequences on the ground."

Citizens and institutions are advised to:

• Adjust activities to current weather conditions and avoid being outdoors during the most intense rainfall and wind gusts.
• Follow official announcements and recommendations from competent authorities through the media and official communication channels.
• Pay special attention to the condition of watercourses, storm drainage and the stability of structures, especially in areas prone to flooding and landslides, as well as strong waves.
• Ensure free access for fire and rescue services in case of intervention.

In case of need, citizens can call 112, which is a single number for all emergency situations.

The AMSCG also stated that landslides on roads along gorges and ravines have become frequent.

On the regional road R-10 Đurđevića Tara-Mojkovac, at the Sokolovina location, a landslide occurred, causing traffic to be suspended.

On the regional road Danilovgrad-Glava Zete, in the locality of Dobro Polje, due to the overflow of the Zeta River, traffic on that section of the road is interrupted.

In the town of Orja Luka, traffic was also disrupted on the main road Podgorica-Danilovgrad due to water overflow.

Due to a landslide, traffic on the Kolašin-Berane road via the Klisura tunnel has been suspended.

Traffic on the Danilovgrad-Ostrog section is disrupted due to a landslide.

A landslide also occurred on the Meljine - Petijevići road due to heavy rainfall, and the rock that fell on the road has since been removed, reports the RTHN portal.

Kalač: Gradual stabilization in the north

In the north of Montenegro, the situation caused by heavy rainfall is gradually calming down, while the most critical points are Zeta and Morača, said hydrologist Ervin Kalač.

"The situation in the north is calming down, and water levels are falling in small basins. The most critical points are the Zeta and Morača," Kalač pointed out.

He said that yesterday witnessed flash floods that led to erosion.

"And we are also witnessing soil erosion due to fires, which ultimately leads to cloudiness," Kalač told RTCG.

He said that precautions must be taken due to high water levels.

"We have to be vigilant. We have some kind of stabilization, but we have to be vigilant because the water levels are high," Kalač pointed out.

An emergency flood protection regime has been introduced in Bijelo Polje due to the expected rise in water levels in the Lim River and its tributaries, and municipal services have been placed on 24-hour duty with the mobilization of machinery to protect people and property.

The Institute for Hydrometeorology and Seismology stated that there has been an increase in water levels in almost all watercourses, but that critical levels have not been reached.

The Directorate for Protection and Rescue warned that heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds is expected in the coming days, with possible short-term storms and a stronger cold snap from Wednesday evening, while municipal operational teams are on standby.

Bojanić: 80 percent of properties in Beri flooded, but water did not enter anyone's house

The situation in the Capital City, due to heavy rainfall, is as under control as it can be in these conditions, said the Head of the Capital City Protection and Rescue Service, Nikola Bojanović.

He told the MINA agency that the situation is not as bad as it could be.

"We have no interventions, the situation is under control for now, as much as it can be in a situation like this. We are visiting critical points, water levels, maybe the water is a little lower than last night, but approximately unchanged," said Bojanović.

VIDEO Viber/PatrolaCG

He said that yesterday they had two water pumping interventions, one in the Rakić Houses and the other in Orjenska Street.

"The situation has not progressed negatively compared to yesterday, but it is a little better. We are visiting everything, it is an awkward situation, it is not an isolated case that one yard floods. In Beri, 80 percent of properties are flooded, but no one's house has had water enter. If the bad weather continues, water will enter houses, you cannot prevent that," said Bojanović.

Floods slowed down coal deliveries to Pljevlja TPP and halted overburden works

The Pljevlja coal mine is facing serious challenges in the area of ​​coal exploitation and delivery to the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant (TPP), resulting from heavy rainfall that has affected the municipality.

"Due to the significant increase in the water level of the Vezišnica River, which has overflowed its banks in several locations, many infrastructure facilities are at risk as well as the operation of the 'Maljevac' crushing plant, which has brought into question the dynamics, quality and delivery of coal for the needs of the thermal power plant," the Coal Mine announced.

As they explained, the problem is further complicated by the fact that the floods have destroyed and damaged access roads, which has slowed down transport communication.

"The flooded terrain and flood wave caused the suspension of work on the overburden, and the risk of landslides has additionally increased due to complicated geotechnical conditions in the mine, which requires the need for additional drainage and slope stabilization measures," the statement said.

There is also a large inflow of water into the mine, and the pumps are operating at maximum capacity.

The Coal Mine reminded that exploitation in the "Potrlica" mine had already been significantly disrupted due to landslides that occurred in October last year, which led to a several-month halt in overburden works, and the current weather conditions have stopped the implementation of planned production.

"The expert services of the Coal Mine, with the operational team, are working on assessing the situation and are making maximum efforts to overcome these challenges, in order to ensure the conditions for the safe continuation of work and the stable supply of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant with the necessary quantities of coal, with full respect for all safety and technical procedures, and preserving the stability of the mining and energy system," the statement concludes.