Deadly Deluge Devastates Romania, Bulgaria

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR DISASTERS
EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
DEADLY DELUGE
MASS EVACUATIONS
SCENARIOS 444, 111, 070, 023
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Deadly Floods Wreak Havoc in East Europe

Extreme Rain Events flooded rivers, breaking their banks in Romania’s districts of Arges, Gorj, Teleorman and Valcea, some 200 kilometers west of the capital Bucharest, forcing scores of people to evacuate.

At least a dozen people were left dead, or reported missing, according to local reports.

“A passenger train derailed in the same area after a small bridge caved in due to flooding, but there were no immediate reports of injuries, the national railway said,” AP reported.

“Seventy Bulgarian villages and parts of the city of Gabrovo were left without electricity and water supply was disrupted as the flooding destroyed some of the water and sewerage infrastructure. The rains also induced landslides and destroyed bridges, and many roads in the region were blocked by mud and debris.”

More areas in southern Romania could be affected in the next few days with torrential rains, local forecasters said.

In June, flash floods deluged neighboring Bulgaria, devastating the Black Sea resort city of Varna, killing more than a dozen people, and forcing scores of others to evacuate.

In May, Serbia, Bosnia and Croatia were hit by the most extreme rain events ever recorded in the region, which killed dozens of people and caused billions of dollars in damage.

Related Links, Recent Historic Floods

• ‘Terrifying’ Floods Affect 1,000,000 Bosnians Posted on May 19, 2014
• Mass Evacuations as Floods Submerge Towns in Croatia May 19, 2014
• Balkan Historic Flood Disaster Update  May 17, 2014
• Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia  May 15, 2014
• ‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

 

Historic Flooding Turns Deadly in Serbia, Bosnia

EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC EVENTS
DEADLY HAZARDS
EXTREME RAIN EVENT
HISTORIC FLOODING
SCENARIO 023
STATE OF EMERGENCY 
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State of Emergency Declared in Serbia amid Deadly, Historic Flooding

“What we are facing is the biggest water catastrophe in Serbia’s history. This is the greatest flooding disaster ever. Not only in the past 100 years […] this has never happened in Serbia’s history […] more rain has fallen in one day than in four months,” said the Serbian Prime Minister.

Hundreds of people in the Balkans have been evacuated as rain-swollen rivers flooded roads, bridges and railways, cutting off power and phone service, and forcing schools to close, AP reported.

Floodwaters have submerged large swathes of land isolating numerous towns and villages and killing at least 6 people, according to local reports.

The Bosnian government is using the military to help thousands of civilians whose homes were inundated, especially in the central and eastern regions, Reuters reported.

“This is the worst rainfall in Bosnia since 1894, when weather measurements started to be recorded,” said a Bosnian meteorologist, forecasting the rain would continue until the end of the week.

Heavy flooding has been reported also in large parts of Romania, reports said.

Links to Recent Historic Floods

‘Historic’ Flooding Submerges Pensacola, FL  April 30, 2014

 

Earthquakes – Feb. 3, 2014

SEISMIC HAZARD
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Significant Quakes strike a dozen countries

Greece
M6.1 – 12km NW of Lixourion, Greece 2014-02-03 03:08:46 UTC
Location: 38.292°N, 20.337°E depth=13.7km (8.5mi)
Distances: 298km (185mi) W of Athens, Greece

Romania
M4.1 – 18km ESE of Comandau, Romania 2014-02-03 00:26:31 UTC
Location: 45.674°N, 26.471°E depth=135.0km (83.9mi)
140km (87mi) NNE of Bucharest, Romania

United States
M3.9 – 18km NW of Caldwell, Kansas 2014-02-03 09:03:21 UTC
Location: 37.128°N, 97.772°W depth=5.0km (3.1mi)
185km (115mi) N of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Earthquake Location Map, logged at 14:24:34 UTC on 2014-02-03 . Source: USGS/EHP

Iran
M5.3 – 89km SE of Minab, Iran 2014-02-02 14:26:47 UTC
Location: 26.579°N, 57.717°E depth=25.0km (15.5mi)
340km (211mi) NNW of Muscat, Oman

Burma
M5.1 – 53km WNW of Mawlaik, Burma 2014-01-29 13:46:50 UTC
23.862°N 93.949°E depth=59.1km (36.7mi)
59km (37mi) SSE of Churachandpur, India

India
M5.2 – 260km ENE of Port Blair, India 2014-02-02 23:44:01 UTC
12.285°N 95.061°E depth=34.6km (21.5mi)
385km (239mi) W of Myeik, Burma

Indonesia
M5.1 – 119km ENE of Dofa, Indonesia 2014-02-02 02:59:24 UTC
1.311°S 126.317°E depth=45.7km (28.4mi)
259km (161mi) SSW of Kota Ternate, Indonesia

Philippines
M5.2 – 168km W of Sabtang, Philippines 2014-02-02 18:51:09 UTC
20.239°N 120.262°E depth=10.0km (6.2mi)
201km (125mi) SSW of Hengchun, Taiwan

PNG
M5.5 – 95km SE of Taron, Papua New Guinea 2014-02-03 04:25:59 UTC
4.947°S 153.752°E depth=93.8km (58.3mi)
177km (110mi) ESE of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea

New Zealand
M6.5 – 192km SSE of L’Esperance Rock, New Zealand 2014-02-02 09:26:37
32.908°S, 177.822°W depth=40.4km (25.1mi)
1,138km (707mi) NE of Wellington, New Zealand

Climate Change: A Quickscan

Do You Feel Lucky in 2008?

Ukraine: Worst floods in 100 years

Floods caused by 5 days of nonstop rain kill up to 20 people, mostly children. A senior government official described the floods as the worst in 100 years. More than 20,000 homes have been flooded and 7,000 people evacuated.

Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko (3rd L) visits a settlement affected by floods in the Ivano-Frankivsk region July 27, 2008. Floods described by a senior government official as the worst in a century have killed 13 people in western Ukraine and four in neighboring Romania, officials said on Sunday. REUTERS/Mykhailo Markiv/pool

President Viktor Yushchenko flew to the worst affected area in the Ivano-Frankivsk region after leaving early a service in Kiev marking the 1,020th anniversary of the adoption of Orthodox Christianity in the region. Reuters reported.

Romania

Up to 10,000 people from 200 villages were evacuated as 2,500 houses and 25,000 hectares of farmland were flooded. At least 4 people were killed, including a child who drowned.

“We have two critical situations, on the rivers Siret and Prut,” Romanian Prime Minister said.

“So you understand the gravity of the situation, water levels on the river Prut next to the borders with Ukraine and Moldova are higher than on the Danube.”

New Zealand: Worst weather in 50 years.

g at least three dead and as many as 100,000 homes without electricity. About 10,000 tourists were stranded. [In 2008, New Zealand has thus far experienced the worst deforestation rates,worst snow storms, worst floods, worst drought and worst storms in 50 years.]

South Korea: Worst Floods in 50 Years

Up to 20 people were killed or reported as missing as the fourth day of torrential rains lashed parts of South Korea . In the worst-hit areas of North Gyeongsang province, up to 250 mm of rain
in a 24-hour period caused landslides and flooding forcing people to evacuate their homes.

Kenya

Cholera outbreak has affected eight districts in Nyanza and Western provinces. Over 80% of cholera transmission has been attributed to lack of access to safe drinking/domestic water. About 75% of the water sources are contaminated.

Myanmar

Some three months after Cyclone Nargis struck the country inflicting immense damage, as many as 700,000 children are still in need of assistance. The cyclone destroyed or damaged about 750,000 homes, affected about 2.4 million people and destroyed three quarters of the local health facilities. “In addition, the cyclone struck a severe blow to people’s livelihoods by flooding 600,000 hectares of agricultural land, killing up to 50 per cent of livestock in the affected areas, and destroying fishing boats, food stocks and agricultural implements. According to the report, the damages and losses amount to $4 billion.” UNICEF reported.

Taiwan

Typhoon Fung-Wong with winds up to 147km/h (92 mph) struck the east coast of Taiwan today with heavy rains, forcing schools and businesses to close. In July 18, tropical storm Kalmaegi struck southern Taiwan, which left 20 people killed and 6 missing. “A Central Weather Bureau forecaster was quoted as saying the total rainfall may reach 900mm (35 inches).” BBC reported.