Slovenia has faced “the biggest natural disaster” in its history, Prime Minister Robert Golob said on Saturday, after devastating floods caused damage estimated at 500 million euros ($550m), killed three people and destroyed roads, bridges and houses.
Speaking after a meeting of the country’s National Security Council on Saturday, Golob said, “Luckily, last night was easier than the one before”, adding that two-thirds of the small Alpine nation’s territory had been affected.
The floods were caused by torrential rains on Friday, which caused rivers to swell swiftly and burst into houses, fields and towns. Slovenia’s weather service said a month’s equivalent of rain fell in less than a day.
Flash floods were reported in Austria, which neighbours Slovenia, on Saturday. About 80 people were forced temporarily to leave their homes in the southern Carinthia province.
Experts say extreme weather conditions are partly fuelled by climate change. Parts of Europe saw record heat and battled wildfires during the summer.
Al Jazeera’s Michael Appel reports.
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