At least four people have died in Slovenia after torrential rains and floods caused untold damage across the country.
The extreme weather that prevailed on Friday began to subside on Saturday and authorities began to assess the extent of the damage.
Prime Minister Robert Golomb said that the floods had caused material damage of 550 million euros.
"This is the worst natural disaster in Slovenia's 30-year history. It has affected two-thirds of the country," he said on Saturday after attending a meeting of the National Security Council.
NEW: Three killed as floods, landslides caused by heavy rains hit Slovenia pic.twitter.com/rCe1e2JOyg
— Adele Beranic k. (@beranic_k) August 4, 2023
Three people were found dead on Friday, while a fourth person was reported dead by Slovenian media on Saturday.
Among the dead were two Dutch climbers who died in the mountains near Kranj on Friday.
A woman was reported to have died on Friday as a result of flooding in the city of Kamnik. Authorities also found the body of a man on the outskirts of Ljubljana on Saturday. At least five Dutch citizens have gone missing amid extreme weather conditions.
that's how the car was washed away in today's floods #poplave #Slovenia # pic.twitter.com/UcRaCzVCay
— WarMonitoreu (@WarMonitoreu) August 4, 2023
Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes and many were taken by rescue teams to safer places by helicopters and boats.
The heavy rains caused extensive damage that led to the collapse of at least three bridges and mainly affected the country's roads and energy infrastructure.
A lot destroyed in the floods in Slovenia #Flood #Floodwater #Poplave #Slovenia pic.twitter.com/goTMN4jvT5
— WarMonitoreu (@WarMonitoreu) August 5, 2023
Large sections of roads were submerged under water severely affecting transport and access to villages.
it is terrible what is happening in Slovenia! pray for us #Poplave #Slovenia #slovenija #flood pic.twitter.com/Fm1zAWLiLC
— WarMonitoreu (@WarMonitoreu) August 5, 2023