BUCHAREST, Romania, March 4 (UPI) -- The level of the Danube River increased nearly an inch by Thursday in southern Romania, bringing the flood to more than 17 inches above warning levels.
Heavy rains submerged much of the Danube River basin, with parts of Bulgaria reporting more than 5 feet of water. Parts of southern Romania were under more than 20 feet of water, the news agency Financiarul reports.
Local officials said they were monitoring parts of the Danube around the clock as the river level crests more than 17 inches past the 18-foot warning level.
Civil defense teams were dispatched through parts of the Danube River basin to protect levees and drainage facilities.
The flooding was expected to subside as the weather pattern rocking parts of southern Europe passes through the area. Light rain was predicted Thursday for Bucharest.
The Danube during the weekend crested 25 feet beyond its banks in some areas.
The European Commission joined 14 countries in the region in February to adopt an environmental plan for the Danube River watershed to reduce pollutants from agriculture.
