A member of the Bosnian Army puts the JCB 3CX backhoe through its paces.
Photo: Courtesy of JCB

Heavy-equipment manufacturer JCB is assisting with flood cleanup operations in Serbia and Bosnia with $200,000 in equipment donations. The region's worst floods killed more than 50 people and displaced tens of thousands after several months of rain fell in just a few days.

The company provided two 3CX backhoe loaders to assist in the massive relief effort. The first machine has been handed over by JCB's dealer in Bosnia, TERRA BIH, with the support of the British Embassy at the dealer's premises in Sarajevo. TERRA BIH provided training for operators of the 3CX backhoe loaders, as well as service support for the machines in the field.

"JCB has a long history of supporting countries hit by natural disasters," said Lord Bamford, JCB Chairman. "The floods in the Balkans have left behind a terrible trail of destruction, and I hope the machines being dispatched to Serbia and Bosnia will help life return to normal as quickly as possible."

More than 3,000 landslides have hit Serbia and Bosnia, burying houses and roads. In Serbia, a second JCB machine will be made available by dealer TERRA Serbia and put to immediate use by the Serbian Emergency Relief Committee clearing the vast swaths of mud and debris, which have engulfed parts of the country.

JCB has a history of helping countries affected by major natural disasters. Earlier this year the company reacted to the UK flood disaster by deploying a $1.26 million fleet of Fastrac tractors and backhoe loaders to assist with cleanup operations. Last year the company provided $500,000 worth of machines and generators to the Philippines when Typhoon Haiyan struck. For more information, please visit www.jcb.com.