SERBIA

CRITICAL SITUATION IN KOSOVO AND METOHIJA: Two Serbian Villages Flooded, Several Families Evacuated!

by Serbian Times12. January 2026.12. January 2026.

In central Kosovo and Metohija, in the villages of Lepine and Radevo, the situation remains critical due to the overflow of the Sitnica River. The road to Lepine from the direction of Gračanica has been flooded, and the only open route is from the direction of Lipljan, Euronews Serbia reports, noting that the situation is alarming.

As the director of public services of the Municipality of Gračanica told the media last night, the level of the Sitnica River is still rising, and several families have been evacuated from Lepine and Radevo.

These two villages are completely cut off, and the greatest danger is that the river continues to rise. There was precipitation yesterday as well, so snowmelt is expected today, which will further worsen the situation.

Floods in Radevo and Lepine occur every year, even after much less rainfall than this time.

The Municipality of Gračanica stated that all available machinery, which is limited, as well as personnel, have been engaged, while the director of public services says that they have no communication or cooperation with institutions at the central level.

In other parts of Kosovo and Metohija where Serbs live, the situation has largely stabilized, but flooding has also occurred in the Drenica region, in Mališevo, as well as in Kosovo Polje.

In Preoce, Laplje Selo, as well as in Gračanica, the water has receded, damage is being assessed, and the Office for Kosovo and Metohija has announced assistance to flooded households.

As for electricity supply, in the southern part of Kosovo and Metohija the situation is fairly stable, while in the north of Kosovo and Metohija there were outages due to heavy rainfall in villages around Zvečan and Zubin Potok.

Yesterday and the day before, heavy snow fell, and on the slopes of the Šar Mountains trees were uprooted and cables were cut, while utility poles also fell.

The problem in the north of Kosovo and Metohija is drinking water, because, as announced by the regional water utility from the southern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, the water treatment plant cannot keep up with purifying the water coming from the Ibar–Lepenac canal and Lake Gazivode due to heavy rainfall.

Therefore, residents in the north are advised not to use tap water for drinking and cooking.