It is problematic that many did not have any kind of warning from the authorities during the last floods, said the president of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, on Wednesday night in New York, emphasizing that there is still a lot of work to be done on prevention and information.

Klaus Iohannis rejected the claims that he was informed in advance about the floods.
„I didn’t know in advance, it’s obvious, as nobody thought in advance that this catastrophe would happen. It’s a tragedy and it’s very, very sad that even in this situation of natural catastrophe, people died. Others were left without a home, without belongings, without their lifetime-accumulated wealth,” Iohannis told Romanian journalists, in statements made on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Asked if his eventual visit to the flooded areas would have contributed to maintaining confidence in the authorities’ ability to intervene, Iohannis answered: „There were enough authorities there after the catastrophe happened and I think that the first aid, also from the Government, have already been given to the people. We have discussed this issue, we have obviously supported the granting of significant aid, so that people can rebuild their lives, but I think that we must learn a lot from this, we must again inform the public, tell people how to react and people to be informed in good time.”

„It is probably problematic that many did not have any kind of warning from the authorities. They found out from their neighbours that the water wave was coming or when it was already in their house. So here, in terms of prevention, information, there is still a lot of work to do. But those who intervened, the firemen, the forces from the Home Affairs, from the Defense, did a very good job and I think this is worth saying,” Iohannis stressed.

AGERPRES