Danube Busts Barriers In Romania, Serbiam Bulgaria - Highest In 111 Years

[hatrack]

BUCHAREST - The Danube river broke through flood defences in southeastern Europe on Monday, driving thousands of people from their homes along its banks in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, officials said.

Swollen by heavy rain and melting snow from central Europe, the river hit its highest level in 111 years at the weekend, swamping ports and thousands of hectares (acres) of farmland. Authorities evacuated 3,200 people and more than 6,000 animals from the village of Rast in southern Romania on Monday after the Danube breached a nearby dam and flooded the area.

"Police and paramilitary units used trucks to take people out of the flooded village. They have been taken to stay with relatives or friends," said police spokeswoman Maria Vasile.

In the nearby village of Negoi, 230 people were taken to safety. Television footage showed police in rescue boats helping people to escape from their houses.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35997/story.htm

[donsu]

1. the newly poor - we need a poor clock - ticking off the numbers of

newly poor due to global warming.

something like a world population clock (wonder how soon that will go down instead of up)

[phantom power]

2. "everything is under control"

"We are the victims of authorities who have been telling us for three days that everything is under control. Villagers are afraid and want to escape, but I sold my house to move here and I have nowhere to go. I am sure the dike is going to break. We are at God's mercy," said local resident Mariana Stanciu, 53, standing at the dike.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060418/ap_on_re_eu/balkans_floods_3

Oh yes, we humans have got it all under control.