Four people were killed in floods in eastern Romania as rainstorms left scores stranded, emergency authorities reported on Saturday.

Rescue services worked urgently to save 95 people in the heavily affected eastern counties of Galati and Vaslui.

The bodies of the four who died were discovered in the localities of Pechea, Draguseni, Costache Negri, and Corod, according to the Department for Emergency Situations, which did not provide details on how exactly they died. A fifth body that was found was determined not to have been killed by the flooding.

Emergency authorities released video footage showing a team of rescuers evacuating an elderly man on a small lifeboat before carrying him to safety.

The storms battered 19 localities across eight counties in Romania, with strong winds downing dozens of trees that damaged cars and blocked roads. Authorities sent text message alerts to residents, warning them of the adverse weather as emergency services rushed to remove floodwaters from homes. Some roads have also been closed.

Romania’s environment minister Mircea Fechet told The Associated Press Saturday that, in some of the badly flooded areas, more than 160 liters of rain fell per square meter which he said is a rare occurrence. “What we are trying to do right now is save as many lives as possible,” the minister, who was on his way to Galati to assess the situation, added.

Local media posted videos on X showing the extent of the flooding in Pechea county.

Meanwhile, other central European countries are bracing for severe flooding, which is forecast to hit Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany over the weekend.