After a day of heavy rain, a flash flood on Monday caused major damage and continues to threaten an estimated 1,000 homes near the town of Novi Pazar, about 320 kilometers southwest from the Serbian capital Belgrade, reported Radio Television Serbia (RTS).

Rushing water from the nearby rivers Trnavica and Leca, overflowed their banks, sweeping away three bridges along with a number of cars. According to Deputy Mayor Vujica Tiosavljevic, in addition to the submerged farm lands and damage to homes, the infrastructure in the area has been devastated.

Muamer Suljevic, head of civil defense operations in the municipality, said flood waters rose so rapidly that they completely surprised his staff. A similar flood along these rivers has not occurred in living memory.