Severe floods in eastern Romania overnight claimed the lives of two people and caused widespread damage to thousands of homes, prompting mass evacuations and helicopter rescue efforts, authorities reported on Monday.

Heavy rainfall and strong winds affected 25 villages across nine counties, toppling trees, tearing off roofs, and disrupting traffic on several national roads, according to the emergency response agency.

Neamt and Suceava counties were the most severely affected, with two rivers overflowing, resulting in the death of a 66-year-old man and forcing hundreds to flee their homes. All roads leading to Brosteni village in Suceava were rendered impassable.

Later, officials confirmed a second fatality- an 85-year-old woman whose body was recovered from a riverbed using an excavator.

The Environment Ministry’s water agency noted that some rivers had reached historic highs, and repair efforts on damaged bridges were currently underway.

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