What happened, where and when?
The extensive floods across Central and Eastern Europe, triggered by Storm Boris, have caused widespread devastation in several countries, including Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and parts of Austria. In Romania, the storm unleashed torrential rains on 14 September 2024, severely impacting the counties of Galați and Vaslui. Within just 24 hours, the region was inundated with over 150 mm of rain per square meter, resulting in ash floods that swept through multiple areas, causing significant damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
Galați suffered the most severe impact, with floodwaters rising to depths of 1.5 to 2 meters in localities such as Cudalbi, Cuza-Vodă, Pechea, Slobozia-Conachi, Tudor Vladimirescu, and Costache Negri. In Vaslui, the southern localities of Zorleni, Grivița, and Trestiana bore the brunt of the disaster.
The floods caused extensive destruction, severely damaging critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, power systems, and schools. More than 6,000 homes were damaged or destroyed across the two counties. Approximately 400 individuals remain displaced and are being housed in temporary shelters provided by authorities. Tragically, the disaster claimed seven lives.