In many regions of Slovenia, heavy rains have caused rivers to swell, flooding and so-called flash floods, which are particularly dangerous in urban areas.
The Genoese low Boris, which will reach southern Poland today (September 13), and which is already present in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, has previously passed through Slovenia. As a result of heavy downpours and the resulting flooding and so-called flash floods, firefighters had to intervene in over 70 towns. In the Slovenian part of Istria, more rain fell in a few hours than during the entire past summer.
The most difficult situation was in the area of the almost 40,000-person city of Celje in the central-eastern part of the country, as well as on the Adriatic coast. The Ložnica and Dravinja rivers overflowed, among other places. Roads were flooded and some houses were submerged.
The water threatened towns such as Žalec and Gotovelj. Firefighters placed sandbags there to stop the pouring water before it reached the buildings. Entrances to the threatened buildings were protected with special foil.
Flash floods in cities
In the Braslovče commune in the Slovenian part of Styria, the downpours were accompanied by storms that knocked down trees and broke their branches. Leaves and fragments of branches clogged culverts, which further hindered water drainage and contributed to the occurrence of so-called flash floods.
They occur as a result of heavy rainfall, from which there is no way to drain the water. In urban areas, they are particularly dangerous, and as a result, streets can turn into rushing streams. Basements, underground garages and ground floors of buildings are flooded at a rapid pace. In Braslovce, underground passages were flooded. The roof of one of the houses was also torn off.
The situation was also difficult in the vicinity of Maribor, a city with a population of 100,000, through which the Drava River flows, being the main watercourse in the area.
As reported by the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, the level of most rivers in the country, in addition to those already mentioned, also Savinja and Lubjlanica, exceeds the alarm level and is still rising. Only in the rivers in the east and north of the country is the water decreasing.
