Heavy rains in eastern Romania leave five dead and dozens trapped

On September 14, 2024, news from Bucharest. Heavy rains hit eastern Romania. Emergency rescue departments said five people were found dead and dozens were trapped in flooded areas. In eastern counties such as Galați and Vaslui, the rescue department rescued 95 people. The bodies of three elderly women and two men were found in some areas. Later, it was determined that one of the victims did not die due to the weather.

The emergency rescue department released videos showing the evacuation of the elderly in lifeboats. Black Hawk helicopters were also deployed to assist in search and rescue. The storm hit 19 areas in eight counties in Romania. Strong winds toppled trees, damaged cars and blocked roads. The authorities sent text message alerts and some roads were closed. Romanian Environment Minister Mircea Feche said that in some areas, the rainfall exceeded 160 liters per square meter. Efforts are being made to save lives.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the need to strengthen the ability to predict extreme weather phenomena in the face of climate change. As this storm approached, several Central European countries expected severe floods over the weekend. The Czech Republic, Poland and other countries were all affected. In many places in the Czech Republic, river levels reached dangerous levels, houses and roads were flooded, and multiple railway lines were closed. Moldova also encountered heavy rains. Dozens of people were evacuated in Poland. The authorities called on residents to stock up on food in case of power outages. In this region, after hot weather in early September, there were weather changes. Scientists recorded the hottest summer. Climate change has led to more intense rainfall.