Thousands evacuated from Romanian villages along Danube

Thousands of residents have been evacuated from two flood-hit villages in western Romania as the waters of the River Danube hit near record levels today.

The villages of Rast and Negoi on the Danube in western Romania were worst affected, after a dyke collapsed on Sunday, flooding the communities.

More than 3,000 residents have been evacuated in the past two days from Rast, authorities said, while in Negoi some 400 people were forced to leave their homes.

More than 600 houses were flooded in Rast, and 115 houses collapsed due to the floods. In Negoi, some 150 houses were flooded.

A major road was flooded, and hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were working to repair the dyke and help local residents.

In Romania’s eastern port of Galati, waters surged to more than 19 feet, just below the record of 21 feet in 1897.

Spring melting of snow together with heavy rains has led to floods throughout south-eastern Europe in the past few weeks.