Hydrology experts have issued a new extreme floods warning valid for the next 24 hours involving several rivers in Central and Eastern Romania. The most serious situation is reported on some sectors of rivers Olt, Prut, Siret and Danube, where a red code is now in place until Friday afternoon. Experts also warn of possible local-level floods on the course of several other rivers. The warning comes as floods have caused havoc across the country for several days.

A red code warning for floods was applied for sectors of rivers Olt (Central Romania), Prut and Siret in the East and for a sector of Danube in Galati, Eastern Romania. An orange code was applied for rivers in Suceava basin and for sectors of Prut, Siret and Olt. A yellow code was applied for sectors on Moldova, Crasna rivers, Prahova basin, Bahlui river and Prut.

Meanwhile, the toll of floods that have been affected 20 counties across Romania for several days is growing. By noon on Thursday, 12,000 had been evacuated from their homes, according to Romanian news agency Agerpres. Counties that have been affected by torrential rains and floods are Alba, Bacau, Botosani, Brasov, Caras-Severin, Calarasi, Constanta, Dambovita, Dolj, Galati, Giurgiu, Harghita, Ialomita, Iasi, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Suceava, Tulcea, Vaslui and Vrancea, according to an official press release.

Over the past 24 hours, over 3,200 households and 296 homes have been affected, with one building destroyed by floods. Floods also affected six national roads and eight county roads.

22 people died in the floods over the past several days as bad weather continues to affect areas in 18 counties.

Before noon on Thursday, the level of Danube waters reached a dam in the area of Malu Rosu, close to the Giurgiu-Ruse border crossing from Romania to Bulgaria and was threatening to flood it.