ROMANIA - FLOODS OF PAST THREE DAYS LEAVE 13 PEOPLE DEAD

B ucharest, Aug 25 (Rompres) - 13 people are reported dead and other 3 people missing in Harghita county (central Romania) because of the flooding of the past three days according to Minister of Administration and the Interior, Mr. Vasile Blaga.
On Thursday, at Victoria Palace, Blaga presented the latest estimate of the damages. Between 14 and 25 of august, 31 persons had been killed, either drowned or hit by lightning, the Interior Minister said.
As a consequence of the meteorological phenomena that occurred this year, the current number of fatalities amounts to a tragic toll of 66 persons, Blaga said.
“In the county of Harghita rain fell at a rate of 100 liters per square meter but not in 24 hours - in 15 minutes” also mentioned Blaga. “That made possible flash floods rising seven meters (23 feet). This explains the number of dead”.
Minister Blaga also stressed that the total flood damages for 2005, notwithstanding the 22-25 August interval, amount to over 1.5 billion euros ($1,85 million).
“The Government will allocate 1,35 million lei (US $468.000, €385.000) for humanitarian aid that will consist of food, gasoline, blankets for the people in the distressed areas” said Blaga, also pointing out that in today's Government meeting the issue of the financial aid for the families of the victims will be raised.
According to the official estimates, during 22-25 august, 93 municipalities in 14 counties were affected. Other estimates for the last three days of flooding, and cumulated for the 14-25 August period are:

Evacuated persons: 86, and cumulated 1778
Destroyed houses: 46 (cumulated: 394)
Damaged houses: 22 (cumulated: 2623)
Inundated houses: 1968 (cumulated: 8138)
Inundated households: 1901 (cumulated: 13.115)
Farm lands: 2.529 hectares (cumulated: 54.000 hectares)
Pastures: 75 hectares (cumulated: 5.431 hectares)
Bridges and footbridges: 260 (cumulated: 1.805)
National roads: 10 km (cumulated: 34 km)
County roads 25 km (cumulated: 369)
Village roads: 29 km (cumulated: 1.256 km)
Schools, churches, etc: 23 (cumulated: 242)
Fountains: 804 (cumulated: 18.000)

The Minister of Interior said that railway traffic was re-established in most areas, except for the 319 route between Cristur and Odorheiu Secuiesc. Road traffic was also reopened in most affected areas, and alternative routes for traffic were announced between several cities in Arges, Sibiu and Bistrita counties, where access has been cut off.
Minister Blaga pointed out that the incoming weather forecast indicates local rains for the North-West, Center and West of Romania, but these are not supposed to rise above 20 l/sqm. Several large rivers in Romania , including the river Danube , are still above flood stage, but threat is no longer imminent.