STATE OF NATURAL DISASTER DECLARED IN OGULIN

OGULIN/KARLOVAC, July 29 (Hina) - Karlovac County Prefect Vlado Jelkovac on Thursday declared the state of natural disaster for the town of Ogulin and surrounding areas. The River Dobra has flooded almost two thirds of the town, including nearly 600 houses and a dozen economic facilities located along the river. Many fields are covered with water and the flood has destroyed the bridge near Gomirje on the Ogulin-Gomirje-Vrbovsko road. The road was closed this morning due to water, which on some places on the road was one meter high. Phone lines in Ogulin have been disconnected because the water has broken into the town telecommunication centre. Ogulin Mayor Ivan Vucic said traffic from Rijeka and Karlovac toward Ogulin was impeded by sporadically flooded roads. Overhaul works at the water power plant 'Gojak' was another reason for the increased water level in the Dobra. Traffic toward Vrbovsko from Ogulin and vice versa has been re- directed to the Cetine detour. The water level in the four Karlovac rivers - Korana, Mreznica, Dobra, and Kupa, which rose due to a strong rain, is falling slowly. The Karlovac Water Management reported there is no danger of major floods in the Karlovac area for the time being. (hina) rml