site.btaRomania Evacuates Pre-emptively Thousands over Risk of Flooding; Sea and River Traffic Is Halted

A total of 6,014 people have been evacuated over the past day from 28 areas in the counties of Ardèche, Brasov, Galati and Vaslui in Romania due to bad weather and the risk of flooding, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergencies. Authorities made the move as a precautionary measure after seven people died two weeks ago in the eastern county of Galati.

Sea and river traffic has been suspended and manoeuvres in all ports in Constanta and Tulcea counties have been temporarily suspended due to adverse weather conditions, including strong wind gusts.

Over the past 24 hours, bad weather reported caused damage in 29 counties in Romania, where the wind blew down trees and poles, causing damage to cars and houses. 

"At this moment the situation is under control," Raed Arafat, head of the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, said Monday morning, as quoted by Digi24.

In 25 settlements in Galatz, classes have been cancelled for the day.

A yellow code for heavy rain is in force for the regions of Moldova, Dobruja, central and eastern Muntenia. Strong wind gusts of 70-90 km/h are also expected there. In the eastern and southern Carpathians the rain will change to snow. The first snow cover of this season has already been seen at Balea Lake in the Fagara Mountains in Sibiu County. On Sunday, thermometers there showed temperatures nearing the freezing. 

A flood code orange is in effect for six counties in Romania - Harghita, Mures, Covasna, Neamt, Bacau and Vrancea. 

This past weekend Romania was hit by two overlapping extreme events. Storm Ashley swept the country from west to east, peaking Sunday evening in Bucharest and the country's southern counties. At the same time, the level of the Danube has risen significantly.