Severe storms batter Romania, causing deaths, flooding and infrastructure damage

A series of intense thunderstorms struck Romania on 30 June‑1 July 2026 after an extreme heatwave. The National Meteorological Administration (ANM) issued multiple red and orange now‑casting alerts for Bucharest, Ilfov, Ialomiţa and many other counties, warning of wind gusts up to 100 km/h, torrential rain (up to 60 l/m²), hail and lightning.

In Bucharest a 40‑year‑old man was killed when a fallen tree struck his car; nearly 1 000 trees were toppled across the capital and Ilfov. Flooding inundated streets, Metro stations and public buildings, disrupting public transport and closing the Piaţa Victoriei 2 metro station. Power outages affected more than 5 000 residents in Sângeorgiu de Mureş and over 1 000 customers in Caraș‑Severin, while numerous road sections were blocked by debris and water.

Emergency services responded to thousands of calls, clearing fallen trees, pumping water and restoring electricity. Local authorities announced measures such as a citizens‑reporting app and stricter tree‑maintenance policies. The IGSU advised the public to avoid non‑essential travel, stay indoors during the alerts and follow official updates.

ANM continued to issue yellow alerts for the whole country, forecasting further heavy rain, strong winds and hail through 3 July, keeping authorities on high alert.