Floods hit Serbia and Bosnia

Under water: The Bosnian village of Tinja

BELGRADE, Yugoslavia -- Heavy rains have caused massive damage across western Serbia and northern Bosnia after rising river levels washed away homes and road bridges.

Hundreds of Serbians have been evacuated, including inmates at a regional prison, and road have been closed after three days of torrential rain, local officials told the Reuters news agency.

Divers rescued three prison warders and 16 inmates, who were trapped after a stretch of the jail's perimeter wall was washed away. One inmate was taken to hospital suffering from shock.

Residents evacuated from about 600 homes in western Serbia were given emergency accommodation at a local hotel.

The Kolubara River and its tributaries have reached record levels, officials said, and about 4,000 hectares of crops have been destroyed.

In Valjevo, the town centre was saved from the rising river waters but its industrial zone and some surrounding villages were flooded.

Flood water also washed away the Jadar and Ljubovija bridges, the Tanjug news agency reported.

In Bosnia, Srebenik has been among the worst hit towns with many homes and streets under water.

Two bridges were destroyed and remaining residents are using boats to get around the flooded area.