A state of emergency was declared in Craiova on Tuesday after a Red Weather Alert triggered torrential downpours that dumped more than 100 litres per square metre in under three hours, submerging entire neighbourhoods and cutting off roads. The Dolj county authorities confirmed that fire brigades and municipal teams were deployed across 17 flooded districts, with water reaching car windows in some areas. The Romanian National Institute of Hydrology simultaneously issued Orange Flood Warnings for the Jiu, Olt and Argeș river basins, warning of rapid surges and possible dike overtopping through Wednesday morning.

Meteorologists at the National Meteorological Administration had issued the Red Code at 14:30 local time, citing “torrential rain, frequent lightning and hail.” The Compania de Apă Oltenia estimated rainfall at 100–120 l/m² between 15:00 and 17:30, overwhelming drainage systems designed for far lower intensities. Images shared by HotNews.ro showed submerged vehicles on Calea Severinului and water cascading down stairs at the central railway station. Firefighters reported fallen trees blocking DN6 and county roads 65 and 66, while power outages affected parts of the city centre.

The extreme weather comes as global commodity markets brace for the strongest El Niño event in decades. Handelsblatt’s Märkte Insight column, citing unnamed modelling groups, now places the probability of a “strong to very strong” El Niño at 90 %, warning of drought in Australia, floods in Peru and disrupted harvests in South-East Asia that could ripple through grain, energy and metal prices. “The raw-materials complex is already jittery,” wrote columnist Jakob Blume on Tuesday. “A full-blown El Niño would amplify those tremors.”

Hydrologists cautioned that saturated soils and forecast overnight showers could prolong flooding in southern Romania. The National Administration “Apele Române” urged residents along the Jiu and Desnățui rivers to move valuables to upper floors and avoid wading through fast-flowing water. In Dublin, Irish Water issued similar advice after heavy rainfall raised bacterial levels at popular bathing spots including the Forty Foot and Sandycove Harbour .

Meanwhile, archaeologists in southern Spain unveiled a newly mapped Roman cistern capable of holding 2.18 million litres—roughly the volume that fell on Craiova in a single afternoon. The structure, near the ancient site of Baelo Claudia, underscores how sophisticated water management shaped Mediterranean civilisation even as modern cities struggle with the same element.

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observador · about 2 hours ago

Imagini din Craiova după furtuna de marți. Peste 100 de litri/mp au căzut în oraș. Zeci de străzi au fost inundate Codul roșu de furtuni a provocat inundații în municipiul Craiova, marți după-amiază, după ce în oraș au căzut peste 100 de litri de apă pe metru pătrat, potrivit estimărilor Companiei de Apă Oltenia (CAO). Mai multe străzi au fost inundate, iar în unele zone apa a ajuns până la geamurile autoturismelor. Este a doua zi …

hotnews.ro · about 2 hours ago

Märkte Insight: Das Wetterphänomen El Niño droht die Rohstoffmärkte zu erschüttern Die Wahrscheinlichkeit liegt laut Experten bei bis zu 90 Prozent. Sie warnen bemerkenswert deutlich vor Folgen an den Märkten durch Dürre, Stürme und Überschwemmungen, findet Jakob Blume.

handelsblatt · about 2 hours ago

Cod portocaliu de inundații pe mai multe râuri din Dolj, Olt și Argeș: viituri rapide și depășiri ale cotelor de inundație Institutul Național de Hidrologie a emis marți două avertizări cod portocaliu de inundații pentru mai multe bazine hidrografice din sudul țării, valabile până miercuri dimineață. Hidrologii avertizează că, din cauza precipitațiilor căzute în ultimele ore, a celor prognozate și a propagării apei, se pot produce viituri rapide, scurgeri importante pe versanți și creșteri de debite care pot duce la depășirea cotelor de inundație.

digi24 · about 2 hours ago

Massive Roman Cistern in Spain Held 576,000 Gallons of Water A massive Roman cistern in southern Spain could hold up to 2.18 million liters (576,000 gallons) of water, according to a new study. Researchers built a detailed three-dimensional model of the structure and used it to measure its size, capacity, and the sediment piling up inside. The Great Cistern sits at the Roman site of […]

greek reporter · about 2 hours ago

Craiova după codul roșu: peste 100 l/mp de ploaie, străzi inundate, copaci căzuți și intervenții în mai multe zone Meteorologii au emis marți după-amiază mai multe avertizări nowcasting de vreme severă, inclusiv un Cod Roșu pentru județul Dolj, unde sunt așteptate averse torențiale, descărcări electrice frecvente și grindină.

adevarul · about 2 hours ago

Vette urineerimise tagajärjed võivad olla suuremad kui arvad Ujumiskohtades vette pissimine ei ole ainult viisakuse küsimus, vaid sellel on reaalsed ökoloogilised tagajärjed. Ekspertide sõnul toimib inimuriin vees väetisena, mis paneb vetikad kiiresti vohama. Suured veekogud suudavad selle koormuse lahustada, kuid väikestes ilma äravooluta järvedes rikub see ujumisvee.

postimees · about 2 hours ago

Bathers should take care: Swimmers advised to avoid some spots in Dublin due to rainfall Advisory notices issued for the Forty Foot, Dún Laoghaire Baths, Sandycove and Coliemore Harbour

irish times · about 2 hours ago

El Niño is begonnen en wordt ongekend krachtig. De effecten kunnen blijvend zijn Eens in de zoveel jaar raakt in de Grote Oceaan een kwetsbare balans verstoord. Dat heeft gevolgen voor de hele wereld: droogte, overstromingen en nieuwe hitterecords.

nrc · about 2 hours ago