Galati flooding if dam breaks, worst after second world war, local authorities say

The recent heavy rain has caused an increase in the Danube level, which threatens to damage a 4.5 km dam which is being built to protect Galati city. As many as 8,000 people live in the area which could be flooded if the dam is damaged, according to Cosmin Paun, mayor of the Galati county. In case the dam breaks, the Regional Customs' activity should be shut down, which would trigger a loss of EUR 18.5 million a day, said Paun. The biggest companies in Galati, which employ around 12,000 people are also headquartered in the area which is exposed to flooding, according to Mediafax newswire. The Danube level is 70 centimeters above the flooding level and just 21 centimeters below the danger level, but it is increasing. Several local measures have been taken to strengthen the dam and smaller, ad-hoc dams were erected in the city. If the dam which protects Galati will be broken, Romania will see the biggest urban disaster after the second world war, according to local authorities from Galati, quoted by Mediafax.