EU leader visits flood-ravaged Slovenia to discuss help in rebuilding
CTV
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Slovenia on Wednesday to show solidarity and discuss how the EU can help its small member state which was ravaged by recent floods that killed at least six people and caused extensive damage.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Slovenia on Wednesday to show solidarity and discuss how the EU can help its small member state which was ravaged by recent floods that killed at least six people and caused extensive damage.
Von der Leyen met with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob and visited a flood-hit region in the country.
Slovenian officials have described last week's floods as the worst natural disaster in the country's 32-year history. Two-thirds of the Alpine state's territory was affected and the damage could reach billions of euros (dollars), according to officials.
Torrential rains caused rivers to overflow, flooding houses and fields, damaging bridges and roads, cutting off entire villages and leaving thousands without electricity and running water.
Experts say extreme weather conditions are partly fuelled by climate change. Parts of Europe have seen record heat and wildfires this summer.
Golob has said that the greatest damage was to the road and energy infrastructure and that Slovenia will need EU support to rebuild. A number of countries have already sent people and equipment to help.
At the Vatican, Pope Francis said Wednesday that he was praying for victims of floods in Slovenia and Georgia and offered his thanks to those providing aid.
