Extreme temperatures in Romania

The prolonged heat wave that has hit Romania caused the death of a number of people all over the country.

Leyla Cheamil, 24.06.2016, 13:25

Tropical temperatures have been affecting these days several regions in Romania. The most serious situation is reported in eastern Romania, where several people died due to the high temperatures. The fact that they ventured out, in the extreme heat, without any form of sun protection, was the main reason for their death. The emergency services were called, but they could not save the victims.

People have been warned that sun protection measures are vital, such as avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun and hydration. In their turn, the Sanitary Veterinary Authority and also the Food Safety Authority have both warned over the increased risk of food alteration and the incidence of food poisoning. In some Romanian cities, local authorities have taken a series of anti-heat measures and also special measures in schools, where exams are under way. First aid tents, equipped with air conditioning and where water is freely available, have also been set up. In the capital Bucharest, where extreme temperatures have been reported as well over the past few days, emergency services reported a big number of cases of high blood pressure, heart and mental problems.

Meteorologists have warned that temperature may hit all-time highs on more than one occasion and that the heat waves are expected to be more frequent and more intense throughout the summer and even in September. Worth mentioning is that the highest temperature ever reported in Romania stood at 44.5 degrees Celsius, recorded in the Ramnicelu village in Braila County on August 10, 1951.

For over three weeks, Romania has been seeing unusual weather, such as tropical heat, heavy rain, thunder storms and flood flows that swept through several regions. The latter killed several people and destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland, leaving dozens of areas without electricity. In Jiu Valley in the southwest and Piatra Neamt in the northeast, hail storms damaged hundreds of cars. Numerous families were forced to leave their homes. Authorities have recently announced that people who suffered damages because of the extreme weather will be compensated.

(Translated by E. Enache)