With ropes around their stomachs, the neighbors in the Galați area go from house to house, to rescue the elderly and the disabled, who were trapped in their homes when the Danube river rose above its banks.
– The refrigerator fell on me and I couldn’t get out, so I screamed all night until some people came and saved me, says a resident of the Romanian village of Slobozia Conachi.
During Saturday, four people were found dead in the region, where 5,000 homes were damaged by the amounts of rain. Another person was confirmed dead there on Sunday.
Preparing for more rain
Storm Boris moved in on Thursday with strong winds and unusually heavy rain. Romania’s president stated in a statement on Sunday that the country must do better at preventing extreme weather, which has become more common as a result of climate change.
Several countries in Central and Eastern Europe are now preparing for further rain, up to and including Monday.
In the Czech Republic, water levels are feared to be higher than in 50 or perhaps 100 years this weekend, and authorities today distributed sand and sacks to help citizens protect their property.
“Of course I’m scared”
In southern Poland, authorities have urged residents to stockpile food and water, and prepare for power outages.
– Of course I’m scared. Everyone is afraid of water. Water is the strongest natural force, says Zofia Owsiaka, resident of Glucholazy, Poland.
So far, one person has drowned as a result of high water flows in the country.
In the northern part of Austria, the authorities have declared a state of emergency due to the floods.
Ulrika Göthlin, who works at the Swedish School in Vienna, lives in Klosterneuburg in the affected area:
– It is terrible. A lot of people who have had to leave homes and houses.
Watch the interview with her in the player above.