Floods Cause Huge Damage in Eastern Slovenia

Celje/Krsko, 21 August

Flash floods that hit eastern Slovenia on Sunday have caused huge damage, according to preliminary estimates. The damage on infrastructure in the Sevnica municipality alone is estimated at over one billion tolars, Sevnica Mayor Kristijan Janc told STA on Monday.

Heavy overnight rain has triggered flash flooding in parts of Slovenia, wreaking havoc in transport and causing extensive damage.
The hardest hit is the east of the country, particularly the area around Slovenia's third-largest city Celje and the area around the SE town of Krsko, the Civil Protection and Disaster Relief Administration said.
A number of roads have been closed around Celje due to the flooding and subsequent mud slides.
According to initial assessments, the total damage will go into the billions of tolars.
Dozens of houses have also been flooded around Celje, Krsko and Sevnica. Civil protection teams and firefighters have been mobilised to help in the clean up efforts.
Moreover, a house has been overrun by a mudslide near the NE city of Maribor. It is unclear whether any people were inside at the time of the accident.
The drinking water system near Zalec was flooded and the water is no longer safer to drink, authorities said.
According to reports, the Savinja river, which flows through Celje and then empties itself in the Sava river at Zidani most, has reached dangerous levels.
The government is expected to earmark a total of SIT 80m (EUR 0.33m) for services dealing with the consequences of flash flooding that ravaged through eastern Slovenia on Sunday.
Visiting the municipalities of Krsko and Sevnica on Monday to inspect the damage, Defence Minister Karl Erjavec said the government would debate such a proposal on Thursday.
He explained that the funds would be allocated exclusively to cover the costs of fire brigades and other maintenance services working to repair the damage in the affected areas.
Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning Janez Podobnik, who was also visiting the ravaged municipalities, added that it would take a few days to asses the consequences of the flooding and give an estimate of the compensation to individuals.
After this assessment has been made, the ministry in charge will draw up a proposal for the reconstruction, Podobnik said. According to him, individuals can expect to get state funds in autumn.
The Slovenian Red Cross has meanwhile said it has allocated SIT 5m (EUR 20,870) as relief to the devastated areas. The money will come from the Solidarity Fund, to which all citizens contribute through the purchase of special stamps and train tickets.
The organisation also urged everyone to help people in the affected areas by contributing money or relief in kind.

Floods Cause Huge Damage in Eastern Slovenia

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