A total of 6,014 people were evacuated during the past 24 hours from 28 settlements in the counties of Arges, Brasov, Galati and Vaslui in Romania due to bad weather and the risk of flooding, the country's General Inspectorate for Emergencies reported. The authorities took these measures as a precaution after the tragic incident two weeks ago in the eastern district of Galats, when rising waters claimed the lives of seven people, BTA quoted.
Sea and river traffic is temporarily suspended and maneuvers in all ports in Constanta and Tulcea counties are suspended due to adverse weather conditions, including strong gusts of wind.
Over the past 24 hours, bad weather has caused significant damage in 116 settlements in 29 counties of Romania, where trees and poles blown down by the wind have damaged cars and buildings.
"The situation is under control at this time," assured Raed Arafat, head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, quoted by Digi24.
In 25 settlements in Galats, classes have been canceled for today.
A yellow code for heavy rain is in effect for the regions of Moldova, Dobrudja, central and eastern Muntenia, where strong wind gusts with speeds of 70 to 90 km/h are expected. In the Eastern and Southern Carpathians, the rain will change to snow.
A flood code orange applies to six counties of Romania: Harghita, Mures, Covasna, Neamt, Bacau and Vranca.
This weekend Romania was hit by two overlapping extreme phenomena. Cyclone "Ashley" crossed the country from west to east, with the peak of the phenomenon being reached yesterday evening in Bucharest and in the southern counties. At the same time, the level of the Danube rose significantly.