Floods in Romania

Over the past days, tens of localities in Romania have been affected by floods.

România Internațional, 14.03.2018, 14:07

The sudden change in temperatures and the melting of snow have caused floods in tens of localities from 15 counties of Romania, including the capital Bucharest. In the counties of Covasna, Braşov (in the center) and Buzău (in the southeast), which were under a code red alert for floods, tens of households, many hectares of farming land, meadows, wells and bridges have been flooded and traffic on certain road segments has been closed temporarily or traffic restrictions have been introduced.

Due to weather conditions, school was suspended on Wednesday in the commune of Lăzarea (in the center), where, on Tuesday evening, firefighters saved two people caught in their car by the high flood. To control the flood and protect the houses and schools, firefighters piled up sandbags and also used water pumps, where conditions permitted, to remove the water from people’s yards. Also several people and their animals have been evacuated from flooded households.

Hydrologists issued several code orange and yellow alerts for rivers bursting their banks in several drainage basins in some counties in the center, south and east of Romania. In the south of the country, floods have also damaged scores of localities. The most affected were the counties of Teleorman and Argeş, where the high flood swept through the people’s houses and yards and several road segments were covered by mud.

The authorities are monitoring the situation in the affected areas and are urging the population to ask for the support of local authorities if they encounter problems related to drinking water supply, food and medicines supply or other necessary stuff. More than three thousand firefighters have been mobilized to intervene in the areas with flooding risk. According to the Interior Ministry, the police and gendarmerie will also be mobilized if necessary.

Meteorologists have announced that temperatures in Romania in the coming period will be variable, with maximum temperatures ranging from 10 to 18 degrees C. Also, abundant rainfalls are expected on extensive areas.