Romanian President Returns To Flood-Hit NE Romania

Basescu reassured the locals that the 18-kilometer long dam he had promised them Saturday would be completed in 2011. The President also said he would return to the village as often as necessary.

During the past few days, Basescu and Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc have visited several towns and villages affected by the recent floods, in the counties of Suceava, Botosani, Bacau and Galati. Boc and Basescu talked with the locals, promising them dams would be built and victims would receive flood relief.

All the inhabitants of Saucesti were evacuated Thursday, after the nearby Siret River flooded the village and damaged dozens of houses. Preliminary estimates indicate that some 500 houses in the village were affected by the floods. The village was also severely hit by the 2008 floods.

Twenty-three people have died in the severe floods that hit Romania over the past two weeks and thousands have been evacuated from their homes.