Long weekend gives new impetus to clean-up efforts

The mayors from the Upper Savinja Valley hope that much of the waste will be removed today, which marks the start of an extended weekend, during which many Slovenians from around the country intend to go and help with the clean-up.

Both in Koroška and the Upper Savinja Valley, expert units are in the field today to assess the state of the hundreds of landslides triggered by the rain, as well as the many that are still looming.

In Koroška, the focus today is on sorting of waste. Dravograd Mayor Anton Preskavec told the STA that many volunteers arrived in town, enough for today.

In Mežica, a field hospital has been set up and experts are assessing the state of infrastructure. Telecommunications remain disturbed, as well as gas and electricity supply, while tap water is not potable, which is the case in many other flood-hit areas as well.

The professional fire brigade of Celje said today that it had recorded an increased number of dangerous spillage in the Upper Savinja Valley over the past week.

The two units put in charge of dangerous spillage were called out more than 100 times, finding above all spillage of oil derivatives, oils, paints, adhesives and batteries. Several gas cisterns were also recovered.

The main road through the Upper Savinja Valley remains damaged, with Luče Mayor Klavdij Strmčnik telling the STA that a 3.5-kilometre segment near Luče will be hard to open for traffic due to a landslide.

In Luče, which has been severely hit by the floods and is accessible via another road, most households are reconnected to the grid, while others are using electric generators. Water supply will expectedly be established today.

Last night, a Ukrainian convoy carrying heavy earth-moving machinery reached Ljubno ob Savinji, some 10 kilometres downriver from Luče.

The town has set up community kitchens for volunteers expected over the weekend. A special regime has been put in place in Koroška and the Upper Savinja Valley so as to assure the safety of everybody helping out.

Meanwhile, nearly 50 farms remain cut off in the municipalities of Luče and Mozirje, further downstream. Like in Ljubno, Mozirje is also handing out hot meals to volunteers. But this is not possible everywhere and volunteers have been ordered to bring their own food, water and equipment.

Also in Mozirje, Upper Savinja Valley residents can access psychological help, as the floods have been a traumatic experience for many. Six people died in the storms and floods and hundreds lost their homes.

Meanwhile, Hungary decided to send additional aid in the form of 200,000 sand bags and 4,800 square metres of anti-flood foil, as well as 500 pairs of rubber boots, 300 sleeping mats, blankets and pillows, 600 sheets and 5,000 lamps. The aid is expected to arrive in Ljubljana today or tomorrow.

The Hungarian government also offered additional aid and assistance, offering a diving team, crewed water pumps and heavy machinery.

Moreover, the Hungarian branch of the Malteser charity has already delivered an aid package worth EUR 26,000 to Slovenia.