Danube flood to reach Romania later than previously expected

In Dolj county, where the authorities expect the flood to hit, an operational intervention center has been prepared, with sleeping bags, mattresses and life jackets. The river has already reached its maximum level in Serbia, and the authorities in Belgrade have issued alerts for the population.

The Danube enters Romania from Serbia through Baziaş, where the flow exceeded 6 thousand cubic meters per second. The peak of the flood will come, the authorities announce, with a flow of almost 9 thousand cubic meters per second.

In Mehedinți county, the level of the Danube is controlled with the help of 2 dams: Iron Gates 1, the one behind me at the moment, and Iron Gates 2. Problems could arise, however, downstream, in Dolj counties and Olt.

The high level of the Danube threatens several localities in Dolj county. They are also hit by the flood in 2006, when thousands of people were evacuated after their homes were flooded, after the swirling waters broke the dike that protected them. Now, 15 kilometers from the then affected area, an operational intervention center has been organized.

“These aluminum barriers replace bags. If 20 years ago, when we were working with sandbags, we simply used to carry bags, these barriers have the role of blocking the flood. They are mounted, put on very quickly and easily. It is a water against water concept. From the river, where it is mounted, water is drawn through these sipes and the water is introduced into these hydrodams. They can be filled more or less, depending on what is needed,” explains Dan Naicu, director of the Jiu Water Basin Administration.

According to the forecast of the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management, the flow of the Danube at the entrance to Romania will reach the maximum value of 8,000 cubic meters per second on October 1.

“The forecast was developed on the basis of the latest data from the Danube basin, estimates and additional information received following consultations with experts from the national hydrological forecasting centers in Hungary and Serbia, the forecasted precipitation for the next period, as well as the change in mitigation of this flood in the naturally floodable areas, upstream of Bogojevo. Therefore, the attenuation is greater compared to the previous conditions (as a result of the significant reduction of the maximum flow and the volume of the flood wave). Considering the subsequent estimates issued by the RA National Meteorological Administration, in the situation where additional precipitation will be recorded on the internal tributaries of the Danube, upon entering the country, this forecast will be updated”, say the representatives of the Romanian National Water Administration.

The Minister of the Environment, Mircea Fechet, claimed that the flow expected on the Danube River is not one that will cause problems and that it will be “easily managed”.