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. Pics/AFP
Updated On: 2023-08-09 08:10 PM IST
Compiled by : Asif Ali Sayed
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
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