Romania, in the grip of flooding
Heavy rainfall wreaks havoc in Romania, bringing entire regions to a standstill
Leyla Cheamil, 30.06.2018, 10:07
Weather alerts are becoming more frequent from one year to the next, whether we talk about heat, record low temperatures, blizzard or flooding. According to scientists, these extreme weather phenomena are caused by climate change, which the World Meteorology Agency says it affects our way of life. In Romania, where the summer holiday season has started, meteorologists have warned of unstable weather and bad weather phenomena across most of the country, issuing yellow and orange code alerts for torrential rain of up to 20-30 l/sqm, and over 50l/sqm in certain areas. Rainfall has occasionally turned into thunderstorms, with strong wind. Hydrologists have warned that until July 1st almost three quarters of the country are under threat for flooding.
The material damage caused by this extreme weather is significant: cars have been swept by flash floods, bridges and roads have been destroyed and gardens have been flooded. Heavy rainfall, storms, strong wind and even hail destroyed crops on hundreds of hectares. Road traffic was difficult or even disrupted by the flooding and debris while a number of localities were left without electricity. One of the most affected counties is Bacau, in eastern Romania, where a 13-year old child died after being struck by lighting. Given the effects of the flooding, employees with the Interior Ministry have been dispatched to the affected areas to pump water out of people’s households and remove debris from the roads. Also, several people left stranded by the waters have been rescued by military rescue teams.
According to a release of the Interior Ministry, rescue services are still under alert until the situation returns to normal in all counties, where 8,000 police force, 3,200 fire fighters, 4,600 gendarmes and more than 6,600 technical equipment have been mobilised. A meeting of the emergency command was held on Thursday at the Government, attended by representatives of the relevant institutions. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said that after the weather returns to normal the damages would be assessed, so that the people and communities affected by flooding should get concrete support.
