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In Brief
This Information Bulletin provides an overview of Red Cross response to a summer of devastation across several countries in Europe, particularly floods in Central and Southern Europe as well as floods and forest fires in Western Europe.
Catalogue of devastation
Romania: The latest floods over a four-month period caused deaths in the Transylvania region taking the toll to 67 since April. There are also reports of people missing. The government estimates damage to more than CHF2 billion. 20,000 homes are inundated and 1,000 bridges are damaged. Up to now Romania has suffered six consecutive waves of flooding bringing many communities to their needs. Hundreds of communities have been affected and large scale evacuations have taken place. Power cuts were widespread and safe drinking water supplies were often limited.
Bulgaria: Over the past three months, bad weather has affected 2 million people, killed 20 and caused 20,000 homeless. Government estimates of damage reach CHF800 million. Huge amounts of farmland and infrastructure (including railways) have been damaged or destroyed. 27 municipalities in Bulgaria were affected. Severe damage to public and private buildings (over 48,425 in total) was reported as well as more than 70 destroyed and damaged bridges. Water supply systems were disrupted and 28 dikes and dams were damaged.
Serbia and Montenegro: Heavy rains in April and melting snow in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, caused the river Tamis on the Romanian/Serbian border to rise rapidly. As a consequence, on 20 April flood waters spilled over river banks and broke the dikes on the Romanian side of the river, flooding the area of Jasa Tomic village in Serbia . The village, in the municipality of Secanj, in eastern Vojvodina province, has 2,996 inhabitants, of whom 60 percent are elderly and 40 percent depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Approximately 700 houses were flooded and 130 destroyed.
Austria: Heavy machinery combined with volunteers' bare hands as a major relief operation swung into operation. Early government estimates put the damage into the millions of Euros. Heavy rainfalls led to serious floods and mudflows in south and west Austria during the last days. Many road connections are still partly cut off, train connections are seriously disrupted, phone and mobile phone lines are disconnected. In some areas communication is only possible through radio by relief units. Communication between the operation leaders at the Austrian RC Headquarters and the valleys cut off by the floods could only be maintained via short wave radio. The weather has meanwhile improved; the floods have gone back in many areas and the Austrian RC continues to meet the needs of victims.
Switzerland: Rain has eased and response has shifted from relief to cleanup. Local residents and tourists fled surging waters and sought refuge as parts of the country were cut off for up to five days. Helicopters were the most visible part of a comprehensive response. Two Swiss fire fighters were among those killed. Flooding also caused earth tremors. Damage in Switzerland is estimated at CHF1.3 billion plus.
Germany: Southern Germany also suffered with flooding causing destruction and closing rail tracks. One man was reported drowned. Damage is estimated at CHF150 million. Heavy rain (more than 150 litres of water/sqm within 48 hrs) during recent days caused enormous flooding in the south of Germany (southern Bavaria). A state of emergency has been proclaimed in the districts of Garmisch Partenkirchen, Oberallgäu, Bad Tölz, Miesbach and in the towns of Kempten (Allgäu) and Ausgburg. Mainly affected are the areas near the borders with Austria and Switzerland (also affected by floods and landslides). Heavily affected districts, parts of cities and villages as well as hospitals had to be evacuated. A large motorway bridge near Augsburg had to be closed due to the danger of collapse. Some cities were cut off for some time.
Portugal: forest fires have devastated central Portugal, killing at least 15 people. Several fires raged out of control and the Portuguese authorities called in fire fighting support from neighbouring countries to the 4,200-plus local volunteer fire fighters. The fires come in the midst of the country's worst drought on record and more than 180,000 hectares have been destroyed. Environmental factors and rural depopulation have both been cited as significant contributors to the disaster.
Croatia: Heavy rain caused floods in Croatia, near the borders with Slovenia and Hungary. The state of emergency has been proclaimed in Medjumurje county. The level of the river Mura was 505 cm, bursting its banks near the village Podturen, flooding 30 households. The Roma settlement Loncarevo, which is situated close to the village, has been comple tely flooded. Around 250 people have been evacuated.
For further information:
Regional Delegation, Budapest, Slobodanka Curic, Regional Disaster Management Coordinator; email: ifrchu41@ifrc.org, phone: + 387 59 260 383, mobile: + 387 65 665 747
In Geneva: Erja Reinikainen, Federation Regional Officer, Europe Department, Geneva: email: erja.reinikainen@ifrc.org, phone: + 41 22 730 49 13; fax: +41 22 733 03 95
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org
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