A powerful storm swept through Romania overnight into Wednesday, resulting in one fatality and flooding across 20 counties following a recent intense heatwave. The storm impacted 60 localities, prompting emergency services to pump water from over 350 homes and 100 streets, according to the General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations (IGSU).
The capital, Bucharest, and the neighboring Ilfov County were among the most severely affected areas. One person died when a tree fell onto their vehicle. Emergency services received more than 2,200 requests for assistance, leading to the deployment of rescuers and resources, including trucks, water pumps, and chainsaws, from other counties.
During the storm, 988 trees fell, and 495 cars sustained damage. Romania, like much of Europe, has experienced a significant heatwave this week, with temperatures in some regions predicted to surpass 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). The National Meteorological Administration had issued a warning for "atmospheric instability," forecasting torrential rains and thunderstorms for the western and southern parts of the country on Wednesday.