Romania Flooding Kills 4, Situation Still Critical

Dobre said the situation on the rivers Siret and Prut (at the borders with Ukraine and Moldova) remains critical, although water levels on their main tributaries are dropping to normal.

The authorities deployed 650 additional troops in northeastern localities of Siret, Pascani, Roman and Rachiteni, while intervention team reinforced dams with sandbags in 20 hot zones in Iasi and Botosani counties, Dobre mentioned.

According to official data gathered by 17.00 hrs (Romania time), the heavy rains damaged 9,260 households and over 20,000 hectares of farmland.

Romanian authorities issued high-risk flood advisories on Sunday for six counties in the north and east of the country, saying river levels could rise to abnormally high levels.

Flashflood on Siret River is expected to reach a full peak in the Pascani area on Sunday evening at around 20.00 hrs, with a second peak estimated sixteen hours from that in Rachiteni locality, where Siret joins Moldova River.

The authorities evacuated some 3,500 people in Pascani area, but many refused to leave for fear of looters.