Bucharest, 14 September 2024 (dpa/MIA) - At least five people have been killed in eastern Romania after the country was battered by heavy rains and flooding, news agency Mediafax reported on Saturday.

According to civil protection authorities, the affected areas were in the Romanian region of Western Moldavia, which borders Moldova.

The victims are mainly older citizens, including two women aged 96 and 86, the report said.

Another 90 people have been evacuated, news outlet digi24.ro reported.

Water levels reached up to 1.7 metres in the affected villages, with people climbing onto rooftops to avoid being swept away by floods, the reports said.

Some 200 firefighters and an army helicopter have been deployed to the area.

The rescue services assume that many older people are still stuck in their homes in the flooded areas.

Heavy rain also triggered flooding in other parts of Romania, submerging streets and cellars.

The storms were caused by cyclone Boris which raged over the Adriatic Sea two days ago, bringing flooding to Croatia.

Photo: epa