VIDEO: Devastating storm floods Podgora and leaves 3,000 without power

The Croatian coastal town of Podgora was hit by a severe storm on Saturday afternoon, during which an astonishing 143 litres of rain per square metre fell in just over an hour.

On the third day of the Mediterranean cyclone, the most unstable weather conditions affected the Dalmatian region, with the strongest impact recorded south of Makarska.

While heavy thunderstorms and even hail hit various parts of the region, the town of Podgora has suffered the most damage.

According to Dalmacija Danas, the rain continues to pour, and all available firefighting units are on the ground.

Floodwaters have engulfed streets, courtyards, basements, and promenades. Unofficial reports suggest that floodwaters even swept several cars into the sea.

The thunderstorm caused a disruption in the electricity supply, leaving 3,000 users without power in the area from the eastern part of Podgora to Drvenik.

Unfortunately, more thunderstorm clouds are forming over the sea, near Korčula, Hvar, and Pelješac, moving towards the areas already affected by floods.

Podgora has also experienced a sharp drop in temperature, from 23°C to just 12°C.

Goran Bušelić, the commander of the Tučepi Fire Brigade, told Dalmacija Danas that the situation is catastrophic, with all available units along the Makarska Riviera battling the floodwaters.

Despite the devastation, locals in Podgora remain calm. “The rain is still falling, but it’s easing. Firefighters and diggers are working hard to manage the situation, and there’s no panic.

Around 143 litres of rain have fallen, but we don’t yet know the full extent of the damage. There’s no chaos among the people, and the sun is starting to peek through. We hope it will all be over soon,” said a resident of Podgora to Dalmacija Danas.

Stigle su mi snimke bujice u Podgori. Iznad mjesta, na Biokovu, ovoga ljeta je izgorjela šuma. Katastrofa. pic.twitter.com/mGvWm8Lswx

— Branko Radonić (@BrankoRadonic) October 5, 2024

Podgora’s mayor, Petra Radić, has issued a series of important warnings in light of the ongoing flooding. She urged residents to move valuable items to higher ground and prepare a supply of drinking water, as the flood may contaminate local sources.

She advised against drinking water from taps, wells, or other sources during the flood. Radić also emphasised the need to be ready for evacuation with an emergency backpack and to follow official evacuation orders immediately to avoid being trapped.

For those unable to evacuate, she recommended climbing to the highest point in the house and turning off the main power, gas, and water supplies. If outside, people should avoid walking or driving through floodwaters and move to higher ground if safe.

She also called for assistance for vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, children, and those with disabilities. After the flood, residents were encouraged to cooperate with emergency services in cleaning up, disinfecting areas, and removing any potential health hazards.

Footage from Podgora shows that the situation remains grim.