OBRENOVAC THE HAUNTED CITY
19.05.2014

Boban Dzunic, president of Palilula Municipality, City of Nis, with his team from Nis participated in saving people in Obrenovac. `Only because for few residential buildings that were striking out of water we could conclude that there was a city once` says Dzunic who together with his team from Nis helped the people from Obrenovac in the time of the strongest wave. The most disturbing and painful were the pictures of saving little children who in the arms of their savors were heading to safety.

When we started with the boat towards something that was once a center of the city everything was covered with water. There was no more Obrenovac. We saw the roofs of the houses and few residential buildings from muddy waters and one could only guess that once there was a city there. Dzunic went with his associates from Municipality but also with the team of Gusar diving club from Nis and the professionals from the Scout team `Skolski brod Jadran`. After the call for help to the most endangered together with the group of volunteers I went to Obrenovac says Dzunic. All that we could see then over media was different from the situation at the very location. Our team was in the part of the town that was not easy approachable to reporters. The very coming to Obrenovac was not easy. Many punts, procedures, checks...Only few could be at the positions that were in greatest danger. In the meantime I had a call with Prime Minister then with Nebojsa Stefanovic, and I specially want to thank general Dragisa Simovic from Police who directed us to the place where could help explains president Dzunic.

Coming to the location where one can help to scared people who were left without anything in just few minutes, was not easy. Picture that was there for us in Obrenovac cannot be described. Water was everywhere. We are passing a few punts. In one moment we are at the bridge that is no more a bridge. With the help of rope we get to the other side. Water is treating to take the bridge with it. It is not only the river any more. It is totally at the other side. We came to the part of the town. One person from the locals had to come with us since we cannot see the houses because of the water and this can be very dangerous because they can tear the boat, we cannot see the dangers beneath the surface. Engines break down, blades are broken because of turbid water can not see what the boat may find. Lifeguards are everywhere. Those are the specialists from Russia, Bulgaria. In early morning hours the helicopters arrived for rescuing people -testifies Dzunic about the tragedy of the people from Obrenovac. And they unwillingly leave the houses when the lifeguards come, no matter for the fact that they had awaited for them before, they leave their households under water. It is Balkan kind of life. Whole life those people were settling down and now they have to leave and go somewhere and even flooded the feeling is the same. Those reactions were somehow understandable since the people were in the state of shock. It happened also that the lifeguards had to talk them into leaving with them. The worst moment was taking babies and little children from their parents. One baby was born that day. I do not know what name will the parents give, maybe Srecko (Lucky boy). And when they take them out from the water, fear stays whether all of them will come to whether all of them will stay in the boat to the bulwark. In each of those rescue boats was like ten of people plus safeguards. The boat to bulwark comes and landing of people begin. Pictures are stressful but also warm, humane. Children in the arms of policemen. Their mother come to recognize them and take them. Happiness of every new encounter. At night that is all much worse because you have to work with and under lights of reflectors but trained people know their jobs well. I have to congratulate our divers from Nis. Sometimes, when they went deep down we were scared for them -emphasizes Dzunic.

Priority were human lives but also saving of thermal plant in Obrenovac. People from Slovenia help us also but this is not the end. This fight would be continued and then also when the waters withdraws. I am afraid that it will be the same hard as now. Material damage is big, people will have to fight also contiguous diseases. I think that we are much or less familiar with it. This country many time had similar problems and we somehow conquered them always. Serbs are strongest together when it is the hardest for them and it has been the same up to now, concludes Boban Dzunic.

From Nis, Boban Dzunic went with his team of 30 people to help those who were in the most critical position, but in his town he also organized help for the people from flooded areas. I did not forget about my Nis even there. Special problem we have in landslides in Gabrovac. Those people need help. Our Municipal commission has already stated that five houses are damaged severely. One family already had to leave their home since for the landslide present there auxiliary building was also pulled down. If the construction inspection orders them to move out we will have to take care of them and find them a place to stay, concludes Dzunic president of Palilula Municipality who helped the people from Obrenovac in the hardest moment.