More than 250 houses were recently flooded and four were totally swept away by heavy rains falling in northwest Romania.

Hundreds of people have been directly affected by the floods, losing animals, poultry and fodder. Newly sewed fields have been washed away, wells have been clogged and cars and other assets lost.

A train derailed in Bistrita County as water dragged mud and debris mercilessly across railroads. Three carriages were blocked by stones and wood brought by rivulets from the mountain slopes. Thankfully no human lives were threatened.

The worst hit was Cluj County, where 240 households were affected by torrential rain and flooding, which came at night and took people by surprise.

'The neighbours came knocking at the door and said that the waters were coming. I barely had time to get dressed and the water was above our knees. I didn't manage to save anything – no grain, no corn for the chicken, nothing. The water came as high as our cow's neck,' said an elderly villager.

Fifty people from Caseiu commune in Cluj County were evacuated from their homes and found shelter in the village club.

'I've been living in this village for 50 years and I never saw something like this happening before', said one of the villagers affected by the torrential rains.

Caseiu commune is one of the rural communities in which World Vision Romania works. The organisation responded by offering immediate help for 140 families, consisting of clean water and basic food packages.

The Romanian authorities also provided immediate support for the people and communities, such as clean water and food supplies. Dead animals, which can pose a health hazard due to water contamination, were removed and incinerated.

The effects of bad weather conditions, storms and heavy rains affected several Romanian Counties over the past few days. Some national roads were also flooded and infrastructure heavily damaged in Mures County.

Further storms and rain have been forecast in an alert issued by the National Agency for Meteorology in the coming days yet with a lesser intensity than those that have recently ravaged parts of the country.

Note: update to follow soon