The Danube River reached Wednesday the forecast flow of 15,000 cubic meters per second at Portile de Fier hydroelectric power plant, close to the riverâs entry on Romanian territory.
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The Danube River flow keeps growing; 15,500 cubic meters per second forecasted for Sunday
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FOTOREPORT
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The Danube River reached Wednesday the forecast flow of 15,000 cubic meters per second at Portile de Fier hydroelectric power plant, close to the riverâs entry on Romanian territory.
"This is the highest flow we ever recorded; the previous record was of 14,760 cubic meters per second, in 1981," said Teodor Pavelescu, general manager of the power plant.
If the Danube reaches the forecast 15,500 cubic meters per second flow on Sunday, then this would the highest flow recorded in the past 165 years at Portile de Fier. On April 17, 1895, the measurements of the Danube flow showed 15,900 cubic meters per second.
The Danube levels in Belgrade were rising, while rain was falling in Serbia and Montenegro and western Romania, increasing the danger for tributaries to contribute to the Danubeâs flow rise.
At over 11,500 cubic meters per second the power plant at Portile de Fier sends downstream all the water it receives, not stocking anymore in the artificial lake.
The river depth at Bazias, the Danubeâs entry point on Romanian territory stayed at 780 centimeters.
Villagers in counties Caras-Severin and Mehedinti were fighting to keep out the river which regularly flows one or to two kilometers in the distance; some of them were evacuated.
The dam on the Borcea branch of the Danube gave out in Ialomita county late Wednesday evening; a second dam built in the past few days some 300 meters away managed to keep the river waters away and defend the Fetesti city.
At Calafat port, the Danube also broke through a dam and merged with the cityâs sewage collecting channel, while authorities readied themselves to evacuate around 100 people. The passenger traffic over the Danube, to the Bulgarian bank, was canceled as decks where ferries banked were under water.
Bechet port was also closed to any type of traffic.
In Corabia port homes are not at risk, as they are built further away from the river bank. However, the port facilities, a warehouse and a nearby hotel may be flooded.
All 12 Romanian counties bordering the Danube are applying the 1st degree contingency plans for disasters.
Experts feared the remuu phenomenon might occur, when due to its powerful flow, the Danube goes up-stream its tributaries, thus increasing the danger of floods occurring further in-land.
Translated by Anca Paduraru
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