Powerful summer storm wreaks havoc in Western Balkans, claiming two lives

A powerful storm has wreaked havoc across countries in the western Balkans, following days of scorching temperatures, resulting in two fatalities and widespread destruction. The storm, characterized by heavy rain, hail, and strong winds, first hit Slovenia before moving eastward to impact Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, and Montenegro. The abrupt weather shift caused a significant drop in temperatures within hours, leading to various incidents including a worker's death in Montenegro and a fatal lightning strike in Lustica, along the Adriatic coast. The storm's impact was evident through footage showing damaged rooftops, punctured facades from hail, fallen trees on cars, and flooded streets in cities like Belgrade. Emergency teams in Slovenia responded to numerous calls as egg-sized hail and strong winds caused damage to vehicles, power lines, homes, gardens, and farms. In Bosnia, several villages were left without electricity, with cars and homes suffering damage, while firefighters tackled fires ignited by lightning strikes. The main north-south highway faced closures, and Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Sapic acknowledged the challenges posed by the storm, attributing them to a "new weather reality." Critics, however, pointed to issues such as poor drainage system maintenance and unchecked construction as exacerbating factors in the storm's impact. Instances of individuals narrowly escaping harm, like a person rescued from a car hit by a fallen tree in Beocin, underscored the dangers posed by the extreme weather conditions. Air travel was also affected, with delays reported by Serbia's national carrier, Air Serbia, due to concerns over potential lightning strikes. The storm's aftermath highlighted the vulnerability of the region to severe weather events and raised concerns about the need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness measures.