An estimated 210,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of crops have also been damaged at a cost of 500 million euros (600 million dollars), according to government estimates.

In the central region of Alba, a 65-year-old woman drowned after being swept away by floodwaters, while a 19-year-old was killed by a lightning strike in the southeastern Tulcea region.

Seven people were reported missing in the eastern regions of Vrancea and Bacau, among the regions the worst affected by the flooding.

Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu described the flooding as "extremely serious" and held a video conference with regional leaders in which he called on local authorities to ensure that any people in danger could be quickly evacuated.

Tariceanu traveled to several affected regions Wednesday afternoon.

Three villages in the east of the country were evacuated as authorities feared that the Siret river, flowing 30 times faster than its usual rate, would burst its banks.

The main hospital in the eastern town of Buzau was closed after several walls collapsed.

Hundreds of soldiers, backed by helicopters, trucks and boats, were helping to rescue people.

The flooding began on Tuesday after two weeks of heavy rains and has inundated thousands of homes and cut roads and railway lines, blocking traffic in several regions.

Press reports said the floods, which have damaged thousands of homes and dozens of bridges, roads and railway lines, were the worst in the country for 30 years.

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