Around 100,000 people in the southern Romanian county of Prahova were left without drinking water due to a problem with the Paltinu dam, which is the main source of drinking water for a large part of the county, local media reported, quoted by BTA.
Prime Minister Ilie Bologian approved last night a decision of the National Emergency Committee to start a process of distributing bottled water to the population, the Prahova Prefecture reported, quoted by the Hotnews website.
The national administration "Romanian Waters" warned earlier that as a result of heavy rains in recent days and the sharp increase in the flow rate and due to the low water level in the Paltinu dam, the water purification cannot be carried out in safe conditions so that it can be supplied to the population. As a result, water supply has been stopped in a number of settlements, and the situation is expected to continue for at least a few more days.
"We are facing a critical situation that requires immediate technical measures to protect the population and restore drinking water supply conditions", the state-owned company said in a press release, calling on the authorities in Prahova to declare a state of emergency to allow for a faster and more effective intervention, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Romania reported.
The Prahova prefecture published a message on Facebook last night, describing the situation as "unprecedented" and announced that the Romanian Prime Minister and the Ministry of Interior have expressed their readiness to provide assistance in the water crisis, which affects about 100,000 citizens.
The Emergency Situations Inspectorate in Prahova announced that firefighters will provide water for household needs in the settlements affected by the crisis, which is not suitable for drinking, using four 9,000-liter tanks.
The water problem has led to the suspension of hospitalizations at the Municipal Hospital in the city of Câmpina, except for emergencies, as the medical facility cannot ensure sterilization of surgical and other water-requiring activities, Hotnews notes.
According to estimates by the National Administration "Romanian Waters", drinking water will be able to be supplied again through the network at least 72 hours after the rain stops.