Nineteen Dead, Four Missing, Thousands Evacuated In Romanian Flood-Hit Areas

Romania's Interior Minister Vasile Blaga Tuesday evening said 19 people in northeastern counties of Suceava, Botosani, Bacau, central counties of Cluj and Alba, and eastern county of Vrancea, have died in the past seven days following massive floods. Fourteen people have died over the past 24 hours, Blaga said.

Blaga asked prefects to quickly proceed to the evacuation of people in flood-hit areas and also urged police squads to do their job. Blaga told prefects and deputy prefects in flood-hit counties that rescuing people must become top priority and stressed things are getting worse as weather reports are not so optimistic. Blaga also asked prefects to present accurate reports regarding people killed in the recent floods and stressed victims' families will receive 5,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.3523) each from the Government's reserve fund.

Blaga also said 136 localities in 18 counties countrywide have been affected by floods in the past 24 hours and 1,768 people have been evacuated. He also said the damages caused by floods will exceed 0.6% of the gross domestic product, adding Romania will resort to the European Union's Solidarity Fund.

Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday evening 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 ordered that they receive mineral water, blankets and canned goods. Boc 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.

Mihai Arhip, prefect of northeastern county of Neamt, Tuesday evening ordered the evacuation of over 11,000 people in seven villages along the river Siret, which is expected to keep overflowing. Flood-hit counties of Neamt, Suceava and Iasi have been under state of emergency since Tuesday evening.

Romania has been severely hit by floods, which claimed 19 lives, left thousands stranded and damaged homes, farmland and pastures and weather authorities have extended a code yellow alert for heavy rainfall for 18 counties in the eastern, southeastern and south-central parts of the country until Thursday morning.

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