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Danube Waters To Hit Maximum Level In Galati, SE Romania, On Friday

The Danube River Tuesday will exceed the 2006 historical water level in the Romanian southeastern cities of Braila, Galati and Fetesti, and the river’s flow will hit maximum values Friday in Galati, where the water level is expected to reach 687 centimeters.
Danube Waters To Hit Maximum Level In Galati, SE Romania, On Friday
06 iul. 2010, 11:56, English

According to hydrologists, a difficult situation will also occur on the Prut river, eastern Romania, on the Ungheni-Prisacani sector, where waters will continue to force the dams. In Prisacani, the water level hits 640 cm, 40 cm above the danger level.

Authorities in the neighboring Republic of Moldova are working to reinforce dams and have warned that the risk of flooding is valid especially for the regions where the Prut flows into the Danube, Info-Prim Neo said on its website.

Following rainfalls in the northeastern counties of Botosani and Suceava, the Jijia river is also under alert on the Dangeni-Chiperesti sector.

In Sendreani, Galati county, the flow of the Siret decreased by 30 cm over the past 24 hours, to a level of 696 cm, 46 cm above the danger level.

Nearly 1,400 firefighters and gendarmes from several counties are working to put up a makeshift dam in Galati, to protect the city against upcoming floods. Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday that the situation in Galati is of top priority for local and central authorities, adding that the 4.5-kilometer long dam under construction is to be finalized Tuesday.

Galati prefect Cosmin Paun on Monday said that if the dam in Galati collapses, the economic loss will be huge, stressing that the closedown of the regional customs office alone might trigger loss of EUR18.5 million per day. Paun said 8,000 people live in the floodable area and must be evacuated immediately if the dam gives in and collapses. The area in Galati at risk of flooding hosts the largest economic operators in Galati, which ensure nearly 12,000 jobs. Local authorities in Galati stressed that if the dam collapses, the country will face the worst urban disaster after the Second World War.

Recent flooding has left over 20 people dead and thousands have been evacuated, mostly in northeastern and eastern Romania.

Weather conditions are not set to improve yet and authorities have issued a new advisory for heavy rain and thunderstorms expected until Tuesday night in northern, eastern, central, south-central and part of southeastern Romania.