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The Devastating Floods in Galați County, Romania
As the floods struck Galați County in the dead of night, terrified residents scrambled to find safety, seeking refuge in attics or scrambling to higher ground in a desperate bid for survival. Tragically, the floods claimed seven lives and reduced countless homes to rubble, leaving the affected with nothing in a mere moment. International news outlets extensively covered the tragedy, and the heart-wrenching images vividly depicted the immense destruction.
Flooding has always been a recurring issue in this region. In the previous year, the ROLDA team, accompanied by our friends Lolita and Michele from Switzerland, provided canned food, blankets, and supplies for animals to this exact location. However, this time, the water levels had risen significantly, surpassing two meters in certain areas.
The floods swept away countless farm animals—pigs, goats, cows, chickens—leaving the villagers devastated and with little means to recover. Despite the promise of protective infrastructure, they now find themselves surrounded by dilapidated ruins and muddy terrain, desperately awaiting essential help. Heart-wrenching stories have emerged, such as the one about a woman who valiantly held her 89-year-old mother above the floodwaters for seven agonizing hours until her unfortunate demise.
ROLDA acted swiftly, staying true to our mission of supporting both the community and the animals they nurture. Witnessing the destruction firsthand, we saw people in tears, their homes reduced to piles of trash—furniture, electronics, cars, even house walls—covered in mud and debris. Scattered around were lifeless animals, their presence a grim reminder of the harshness of the scene. In addition, the rain persisted, adding to the overall melancholy.
Journal:
Among the flood-hit villages, Slobozia Conachi was difficult to witness. The night before, the piercing sound of sirens echoed through the air as severe weather alerts blared, signalling imminent danger. In the light of day, the village lay in ruins, a somber reminder of its former glory. The floods had wreaked havoc, claiming the lives of both humans and animals, including a disabled person. As shocked residents tirelessly cleared water and mud from their homes, I couldn’t bring myself to capture too many photos. Among them were elderly people, their frail hands empty and trembling, a poignant symbol of all they had lost.Once the situation stabilises, my plan is to locate the humanitarian camp and provide nourishment for both the hungry people and the desperate animals. Their focus right now is survival, and they may not be open to accepting help from their animals just yet. Getting to the village was a challenge, not only because of the blocked roads but also because officials from Bucharest had arrived, offering aid.
We made our way back to Slobozia Conachi and the surrounding villages, distributing bags of dry food to those in need. Telling us he no longer had any animals left to feed, one man was in tears. The sound pierced through her heart, leaving her feeling shattered. In the middle of the night, another woman recounted her harrowing rescue by firefighters. As they navigated through the flooded streets, the sound of rain pouring, and thunder rumbling filled the air. She introduced us to her large dog, which sprawled on the floor, too tired to stand. Seeking refuge on top of the furniture, the dog survived by staying dry and away from the rising water. Despite his frailty, he was still breathing when she returned, a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming grief.
Despite the rain, we pressed on, determined to reach other villages like Cudalbi, further from Galați. As the downpour continued, people were tirelessly working to clear the mud from their homes and gardens, their efforts seeming futile as the rain only made things worse. Despite the challenges they faced, the villagers stayed determined, their gratitude clear as they eagerly accepted the bags of food for their animals.One man beamed with pride as he showed us a little dog he had bravely saved from the floodwaters, peacefully slumbering in the garden beside her mother. With the falling night and persistent rain, we made our way back to Slobozia Conachi. At the humanitarian camp, the sound of sirens filled the air as firefighters and soldiers rushed to assist us in distributing bags of dry food to those in need.
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