A view of a flood-affected area in the town of Brosteni in Suceava county, Romania, in this handout image released on July 28, 2025. Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS

BUCHAREST (Reuters) -Severe overnight floods in eastern Romania killed one person and damaged thousands of homes, with hundreds of people evacuated and three helicopters searching for stranded villagers, officials said on Monday.

A view of a flooded area in the town of Brosteni in Suceava county, Romania, in this handout image released on July 28, 2025. Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS

Some 25 villages across nine counties were affected by heavy rain and high winds, which tore off roofs and uprooted trees, blocking traffic on some national roads, the emergency response agency said.

Emergency personnel work near a destroyed vehicle in a flooded area of the town of Brosteni in Suceava county, Romania, in this handout image released on July 28, 2025. Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS

The worst hit were Neamt and Suceava counties in eastern Romania, where two rivers burst their banks, killing a 66-year-old man and forcing hundreds of people to evacuate. All access roads to the village of Brosteni in Suceava county were blocked.

Emergency personnel work in a flooded area of the town of Brosteni in Suceava county, Romania, in this handout image released on July 28, 2025. Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS

The Environment Ministry's water management agency said some rivers saw record high water levels. Repair works on collapsed bridges were underway, it said.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie; editing by Giles Elgood)

A damaged car lies on the side of a road, as floods strike the town of Brosteni in Suceava county, Romania, in this handout image released on July 28, 2025. Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations/Handout via REUTERS