After heavy rains, floods threaten northwestern Croatia. A state of emergency has been declared in the municipality of Cestica. The water wave, which entered Croatia from Slovenia around three o’clock last night, has flooded the areas of Lovrečan Otok and Brezje Otok, and according to the latest information, the swollen Drava has overflowed its banks and threatens about sixty houses in the settlement of Virje Otok.
Due to the water level of the Sava River near Jesenice, emergency flood defense measures were declared this morning at 4 AM. The activation of the Odra-Sava drainage channel is expected between 10 AM and 12 PM, and therefore traffic on all roads passing through it has been interrupted. The maximum water wave in the Zagreb area is expected between 4 PM and 5 PM.
In the protected area of Banovina Sisak, an order was issued during the day to continue work on raising the embankment near Martinska Vesi and Željezno Desno, and at 4:30 PM, a warning was issued for the closure of traffic on the road Željezno Desno, Dubrovčak Desni. Work was interrupted during the night and will continue today.
In the part of the southern embankment of the Lonjsko polje retention area, which is under construction, protective measures are being taken for the part of the route that has not been completed. An order has also been issued for assistance to fire brigades in the construction of rabbit embankments.
The water level of the Drava River near Osijek and the Danube near Batina is rising, but no major problems are expected, especially on the Danube. It is expected that preparatory flood defense measures for the Drava near Osijek will be declared around Friday, when the water level of that river could reach plus 240.
This morning, the Zagreb Electric Tram (ZET) announced that the high water level of the Sava River in the Zagreb area and the expected opening of the Sava – Odra drainage channel are causing difficulties in bus traffic. ZET bus lines belonging to the Savski most terminal are operating rerouted along free traffic routes. More pronounced traffic difficulties are noted in the area of Velika Gorica, and normalization of traffic is expected after the passage of the water wave, according to ZET.
The maximum water level of the Sava, estimated at around 420 centimeters, is expected in the city of Zagreb today between 4 PM and 5 PM, with the possibility of declaring emergency flood defense measures, reported the Main Flood Defense Center this morning at 5 AM. At the measuring station Preljev Jankomir, the water wave is expected to pass around 3 PM, with the possibility of declaring regular flood defense measures and water relief into the Odra channel, adds the Center.
