Torrential rainstorms claim five lives, leave hundreds stranded in eastern Romania

Severe rainstorms in eastern Romania have resulted in five deaths and left hundreds stranded as unprecedented flooding inundates the region.

The Department for Emergency Situations reported on Saturday that the deceased included three elderly women and two men from the affected counties of Galati and Vaslui. However, authorities clarified that one victim had been dead for two days due to non-weather-related causes.

Rescue operations have been intense, with emergency crews using boats to navigate through the floodwaters, evacuating residents, including the elderly, from their homes. In Galati, where the flooding was particularly devastating, 5,000 households have been impacted. A Black Hawk helicopter has been deployed to aid in search and rescue efforts.

The storms have affected 19 localities across eight counties in Romania, causing strong winds that uprooted trees, damaged vehicles, and obstructed roads. Authorities issued text alerts to keep residents informed as efforts continue to drain floodwaters from homes.

By early afternoon on Saturday, over 250 people had been evacuated with the help of 700 personnel from the interior ministry. Romania’s Environment Minister, Mircea Fechet, noted that some areas experienced more than 160 liters of rain per square meter, describing it as an exceptionally rare event. “What we are trying to do right now is save as many lives as possible,” Fechet said while heading to Galati to assess the situation.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed his condolences on Facebook, emphasizing the need to enhance preparedness for extreme weather and highlighting the ongoing challenges posed by climate change.

The severe weather has also impacted other Central European countries, with flooding expected in the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. In the Czech Republic, river levels reached dangerous heights, flooding homes and causing power outages for over 63,000 households. Austria has declared 24 villages in Lower Austria as disaster zones, and Moldova has seen significant flooding as well.

Meteorologists predict that a low-pressure system from northern Italy will bring further heavy rain to the region, with Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala urging readiness for worsening conditions. In Poland, evacuation measures are in place in two villages near Nysa, with Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak warning that “the worst is yet to come.”