Localities in six counties were affected by floods and storms on Sunday, July 27, but the hardest-hit were those in north-east Romania, specifically in the Suceava and Neamț counties, where precipitation caused rivers to swell out of control.
On Sunday, the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (INHGA) issued a red alert for rivers in the counties of Suceava, Harghita, and Neamț. Severe weather was also reported in Alba, Arad, Botoșani, Hunedoara, and Vâlcea. Reports quickly came in confirming extreme danger in the downstream of several rivers. The Dârmoxa and Neagra streams, tributaries of the Bistrița River, overflowed.
Floods hit several villages. One person drowned in the locality of Broșteni, Suceava County, and approximately 880 people were evacuated in Neamț County due to flash floods. Videos of the floods showcase the extent of the damages.
In Ostra, eight people, including two children, were left isolated and took refuge on the upper floor of a house, later being rescued by firefighters. Several localities in the county are completely isolated, with no phone signal, and authorities cannot estimate how many people need help.
Two SMURD helicopters are operating in the Broșteni area, where the situation is critical. The floods have destroyed bridges, blocked national roads with debris and fallen trees, and a section of road collapsed between Ostra and Stulpicani.
The main problems were caused by the overflowing of the Bistrița River, which recorded a historic discharge, the highest in the last five decades. “The Bistrița registered a historic maximum since the 1970s. We are talking about a height of 390 cm. To give you an idea, the danger threshold of this river is 350 cm. It exceeded the danger level by 40 cm,” said the Neamț County deputy prefect for Digi24.
Hundreds of firefighters and the necessary intervention equipment have already been mobilized. Suceava County prefect Traian Andronachi also stated that all available emergency forces are already deployed in the field, especially in the hardest-hit area, Broșteni-Neagra. That is where the body of a drowned person was found. The exact number of people who need to be evacuated is unknown, as communications are cut in several areas.
The head of the Department for Emergency Situations, Raed Arafat, stated that three SMURD helicopters have already been sent to Suceava County, which will intervene to evacuate people trapped in their homes due to flash floods.
“At this moment, operations are underway in both Neamț and Suceava counties, especially in the area of the locality Neagra. […] We have 22 people who are isolated in a guesthouse, but there is a landing area, and so they will be evacuated in turn by helicopter from that area. However, according to the information I have from the chief inspector there, there are still a few people, maybe even around 20–30, who are in their homes and cannot self-evacuate due to the water,” said Raed Arafat.
The official specified that the number of helicopters could be increased. “The situation is dynamic, […] things are changing, and our particular problem is represented by the nowcasting alerts that come in and have a major impact. You’ve already seen this in several areas of the country. I still hope that we will manage to evacuate as many as possible and that there will be no problems,” said the head of DSU.
radu@romania-insider.com
(Photo source: Departamentul pentru Situaţii de Urgenţă on Facebook)
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