Flood evacuees return home as Danube waters recede

BUCHAREST, Apr 29 (Reuters) Hundreds of evacuees from flood-soaked Danube plains in Romania and Bulgaria returned home today as floodwaters receded.

The risk of flooding from the Danube, Europe's second-longest river, has subsided but officials said many waterlogged dikes could still give way because of the prolonged water pressure.

Large swathes of land along the river remain under water after weeks of flooding and 14,000 Romanian villagers are still displaced, living in improvised shelters or with relatives.

''Hundreds of evacuees are returning home and their numbers might increase as water recedes,'' Nicolae Giugea, governor of the county of Dolj, the worst hit Romanian region, told Reuters.

''Some 900 villagers from Bechetul din Vale will return today. Most of the houses are safe enough,'' Giugea added.

But for around 1,200 villagers who spent nearly two weeks in military tents pitched on higher ground in the southwestern village of Rast, the prospect of returning home is distant.

''The situation here is grave, dramatic and sad. We will vaccinate against several diseases. We will erect a canteen and separate people from their livestock to prevent an epidemic,'' Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu told Realitatea TV from the tented village.

The Danube poured over dams and burst defences throughout central and southeastern Europe this month as melting snow and heavy rains raised water levels to century highs.

Romanian experts say water flow will drop to 13,000 cubic metres per second by the middle of next week from recent highs of 16,000, but flood warnings remain.

In Bulgaria, civil defence workers have started draining flooded areas and disinfecting the streets and homes that have been under water. In Vidin, where more than 2,300 people, mainly Roma Gypsy fled their homes, people started to go home.

In Nikopol, some 65 houses and five apartment blocks, along with 10 public buildings were still under water.

In Hungary, the number of displaced people is 2,645.

Estimates of damage say insurance claims could amount to 4.72 million dollars, state news agency MTI reported.

REUTERS PG HS1636