Flood Victims' Families To Receive Govt Aid - Romanian PM

Boc said that the authorities' main priority is to provide aid to evacuees and to those whose houses have been destroyed by the floods. The prime minister has ordered that they receive mineral water, blankets and canned goods. According to Boc, there are some 2,400 evacuees and 17 flood casualties countrywide.

The Prime Minister explained that the first step in the relief effort is an appraisal of the damage caused by the flood. Boc added that flood relief money will be allotted by the Government, but that the European Union's Solidarity Fund will also be contacted to provide assistance in rebuilding the damaged infrastructure.

Local authorities said that the evacuees are currently camping out at local schools, kindergartens and mayors' residences, and receive food from the villagers.

Boc visited Tuesday the severely flood-affected county of Suceava. Four people died, two others were declared lost, 13 houses were destroyed and over 900 were damaged by recent floods in Suceava County. At least 270 people in Suceava have been evacuated.

Suceava County prefect Sorin Popescu ordered Tuesday the evacuation of all villages located along the river Siret, which is overflowing. Popescu said the Siret exceeded its danger level by 61 centimeters and ordered the evacuation of homes located on its banks.

Romanian hydrologists issued Sunday a code red flood warning for two rivers in the counties of Botosani and Covasna, but the latest weather forecasts and current runoff levels have caused the alert to be extended for the counties of Suceava, Iasi, Neamt, Bacau and Galati. The current warning is valid until Wednesday.

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