UPDATE - Heavy rain, strong winds kill 3 in Croatia, 1 in Slovenia

ADDS MORE DETAILS, CHANGES HEADLINE

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Three people were killed in Croatia and one died in Slovenia on Wednesday as a result of the severe winds and heavy rainfall.

Earlier, the Civil Protection Directorate reported that two people were killed as a result of falling trees caused by strong winds and heavy rain in Croatia's capital, Zagreb.

It said in a statement that two men lost their lives due to severe head injuries, and the number of injured is not yet known.

Later, Director of Civil Protection Damir Trut said one more person died in town of Nova Gradiska, near Bosnian border.

Meanwhile, a storm killed a woman in Slovenia's resort town of Bled while a man was seriously injured, Slovenian media reported.

The adverse weather conditions have also caused significant material damage in Croatia. Emergency centers received hundreds of calls regarding fallen trees and traffic signal disruptions on streets and public areas.

Telephone and electricity lines have been damaged, and there are reports of roof damage to houses, buildings, and commercial facilities.

The tram lines in the city have been non-operational for some time, leading to disruptions in traffic.

The center of Zagreb is flooded, and all public services are working on clearing the roads from fallen trees.

Zagreb Mayor Tomislav Tomasevic said that something like this is unheard of in the city and called on citizens to stay in their homes

"Both in terms of force and damage, in half an hour this kind of damage was caused. According to the first information, we have two dead people, and I hereby express my condolences to the families," he said.

"All emergency services are on the ground, from firefighters, police, employees of Holding, emergency services. The most important thing is to ask citizens to call the emergency services if it is a life-threatening or last-ditch situation, because they are overwhelmed with calls and rescues are still ongoing," said Tomasevic.

According to Tomasevic, public transport is not working and 85 percent of tram lines are down.

"I am asking citizens to stay in their homes or offices because public transport is not working and 85 percent of tram lines are down. If people leave with their cars, additional congestion is created and it is more difficult for the emergency services to come and clear those roads," said Tomasevic.

Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic sent his condolences to the families of the victims.

The storm also affected other counties in the region.

The Slovenian Environmental Agency has upgraded the orange warning to red for the entire country as the storm system continues to move rapidly eastward, accompanied by strong gusts of wind. However, authorities anticipate a calming of events in the second half of the night or early morning.

Meanwhile, in the neighboring country to Croatia, Serbia, the Department for Emergency Situations has issued an urgent meteorological warning in response to a strong thunderstorm approaching from Zagreb.

According to the statement, short-term and highly intense showers, large hail, and powerful thunderstorms, along with stormy and hurricane-like wind gusts, are expected.

Strom is expected to cause significant material damage and endanger the safety of people and animals.