Thousands were evacuated after days-long heavy rainfall in Bosnia made rivers spill over

Thousands evacuated from flooded homes in Bosnia

BANJA LUKA, Bosnia-Herzegovina — Authorities in Bosnia are evacuating thousands of people as heavy rains cause rivers to spill over, cutting off entire towns and villages. De-miners have been called in, in case the floods have moved land mines laid during the Bosnian War in the 1990s.

Firefighters and volunteers worked overnight and Wednesday to evacuate dozens of towns and villages. Officials in Banja Luka say rain caused 30 landslides there; Tuzla and Brcko are reportedly threatened, as well.

Sections of most roads in the north and the west of the country are flooded, and people have had to spend the night in their cars or in public buses.