Slovenia underwater, roads closed, state of emergency in several municipalities

(Patria) - A major storm hit Slovenia last night. Numerous places were flooded, and sirens warning of danger echoed across the country. Hundreds of firefighters and other emergency service personnel are on the ground.

Many roads across Slovenia are flooded and closed due to floods, sand drifts, mud, and landslides. In several municipalities, where alarms sounded this morning, residents are urged to evacuate to safety or stay home.

In the town of Poljana, the road was flooded, and the torrent was so strong that it swept away a car with a woman inside at one point.

“Thank God, we saved the lady from the car. The lady is safe, she is very happy to have survived this horror,” said one of the rescuers, Jasmin Bajrektarevič, for the portal Koroška Čveka, adding that two mountaineers with equipment happened to be nearby, fortunately.

“I think we were all a little in shock. The lady was shouting for help from the car, and we acted quickly because we realized that the firefighters couldn't reach us,” he added.

The Slovenian Environment Agency (Arso) has issued a red warning due to predicted prolonged downpours, which are expected to cause further rises and overflows of watercourses. The warning is valid today until midnight.

The flow of the Drava River at the border with Austria has increased sharply in recent hours, and the flow of the Meža before its confluence with Dravograd is around 350 m3/s. The Drava will flood its course in exposed areas and downstream from the Markovci dam.

A state of emergency has already been declared in some areas.