Locals survey damage after flooding in eastern Romania

There has been significant damage to property in a string of towns along Romania’s eastern coast after torrential rain caused extensive flooding.

Agigea, Tuzla, Costinesti, Eforie, Mangalia and Vama Veche have been the most affected with hundreds of homes flooded and many streets submerged.

In Venus, tourists staying at one hotel found their cars full of water on Saturday morning.

And the popular tourist resort of Vama Veche is currently without electricity and an extensive cleanup operation is underway to repair the beach.

“Biblical flood! It started at about 1.00 am, a very powerful rain. You could not see one metre ahead,” said one local resident.

Local authorities say that despite the extensive property damage there have been no reports of any casualties.

Over 800 calls were received by ISU Dobrogea firefighters from people asking for help and since Friday night crews have been on the ground in 15 districts hardest hit by flooding.

Meteorologists say the cause of the downpours was a cyclone storm system that was stationary over the Black Sea, sucking up vast quantities of water.

They say this phenomenon is quite rare and generally only happens once or twice a year.

A code orange rain warning will remain in place until at least Sunday and officials warn that the south of Constanta county is expected to see the highest level of flooding.

The cyclone is expected to move south to Greece and Türkiye in the coming days.