Torrential rainstorms in eastern Romania left scores of people stranded in flooded areas, resulting in the discovery of five dead individuals by emergency authorities. Rescue services acted quickly to save 95 people in the severely affected counties of Galati and Vaslui. The bodies of three elderly women and two men were found in various localities. It was later revealed that one victim had been deceased for two days, not due to the weather effects but from other causes. Video footage showed rescuers evacuating an elderly man on a small lifeboat and a Black Hawk helicopter was deployed for search and rescue missions in Galati.
Severe storms impacted 19 localities across eight counties in Romania, causing damage and disruptions. Authorities issued alerts to residents urging caution, closed roads, and emergency services worked to clear floodwaters from homes. Meanwhile, Romania’s Environment Minister expressed concern over the rare occurrence of heavy rainfall in flooded areas. President Klaus Iohannis extended condolences to the affected families and stressed the need to enhance readiness for extreme weather events in the context of climate change.
The inclement weather extended to central European countries where severe flooding was forecasted. In the Czech Republic, river waters rose to dangerous levels, flooding homes and leaving thousands without power. In Poland, evacuations were carried out in anticipation of unprecedented rainfall and rising water levels in the Nysa River basin. Both countries braced for challenging conditions as meteorologists warned of worsening situations.
As emergency workers in Moldova managed floodwater in multiple localities, weather experts predicted continued heavy rainfall in the region. Authorities emphasized the need for preparedness and caution as forecasts indicated potential disruptions from the ongoing weather conditions. A dramatic contrast was noted from the scorching start to September to the relentless rains, setting new records for summer temperatures amidst concerns of intensified rainfall due to climate change.
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