By: C. R., STA
In the municipalities of Medvode, Mengeš, and Polhov Gradec, located around Ljubljana, the process of recovery is underway after the disasters. Accessibility to various settlements has been mostly ensured, and efforts are being made to restore road transport. Authorities are also seeking alternative accommodations for residents. The most significant challenge at the moment is the removal of accumulated waste, as emphasised by the mayors.
In Medvode, the intervention phase is coming to an end, and the recovery phase is beginning, according to Nejc Smole, the mayor of the Municipality of Medvode. Some residents are still unable to return to their homes, and today two structures were assessed as unsuitable for habitation. “These inspections will continue tomorrow, and unfortunately, it probably will not be limited to just two,” says the mayor. The responsible social work centre is seeking solutions for residents who cannot return home. Some evacuated residents of Medvode are still accommodated at the police academy in Tacen, where the municipality organises warm meals for them. Most have attempted to find alternative accommodation with relatives or friends.
In Medvode, floodwaters reached a kindergarten and a school in Smlednik, and there was also minor water intrusion into the Preska primary school. The most significant issues are related to public infrastructure, particularly roads and bridges. The asphalt on roads near watercourses has been eroded, and in the coming days, they will assess whether stabilising the entire road is necessary or if stabilising only one side could be sufficient. This approach, according to the mayor, could help save costs for reconstruction.
On Thursday, teams will be in the field assessing damage to public infrastructure, and a detailed list of all triggered landslides will be compiled. “We estimate that by the end of this week or the beginning of the next, we should have precise figures for the assessment of the damage,” the mayor stated. However, they are still awaiting detailed instructions regarding the assessment of damage to individuals, which, according to the mayor, will be substantial.
Currently, their main focus is on waste removal. On Tuesday, coastal municipalities sent their communal machinery to assist, and today, companies like Dinos, Kočevje Communal Services, and even the Slovenian State Forests have joined in. “We owe them gratitude because we were able to seriously begin cleaning the streets, which are now filled with bulky waste. As the weather gets warmer, odours are already becoming an issue, and this naturally does not have the best impact on people’s morale,” the mayor said.
The challenge of where to take huge amounts of accumulated waste or items destroyed in the floods also poses a significant issue for the Municipality of Mengeš. Assistance with waste removal was offered by the City Municipality of Ljubljana on Sunday afternoon, and they are currently transporting it to the Barje landfill in Ljubljana.
In Mengeš, around 500 structures were damaged, estimated by the mayor based on the number of interventions carried out by firefighters. Temporary accommodations have been provided for residents, and for those who have lost their homes entirely, a solution for the longer term will be sought.
Among the flooded structures are also a school, health centre, cultural centre, sports hall, and houses, listed the mayor. The kindergarten was practically submerged, he says, including the kitchen where meals for 400 children were prepared. At the moment, they are working with the kindergarten director to find solutions as they urgently need to care for 200 children. Accommodation will also be attempted to be provided in mobile homes. “It is very difficult to estimate the amount of damage, but it is immense,” he said to STA.
The damage will also be substantial in the Municipality of Polhov Gradec, where they only managed to reach all structures and establish communication today. “Accessibility, including food and water, is now ensured,” said the mayor of the Municipality of Dobrova – Polhov Gradec, Jure Dolinar, to STA. The bridge to Hruševo, where 100 residents live, is impassable. They have set up a makeshift wooden bridge and have also requested a temporary military bridge. Elsewhere in the municipality, they are organising safe access and infrastructure. The rough estimate of damage to damaged roads and bridges is around 30 million euros, says the mayor.
Landslides are still occurring, especially in Črni Vrh, the mayor says, and two residential houses are at risk. Inspections have already been carried out with a geologist, and the terrain will also be assessed by designers. The landslide also endangers the elementary school, and the kindergarten in Dobrova and the municipal building were also flooded. According to the mayor’s rough estimate, 30 structures were damaged in the disaster. Three families were evacuated, with one of them accommodated at the Polhov Gradec Elementary School, while the other two stayed with relatives.
Collection points for waste have been determined in collaboration with the Voka waste management company, which will also handle waste disposal. The mayor attributes the fact that they did not suffer more damage to the quick response of emergency services and preventive measures they implemented before the disaster.
In all the adversity, immense solidarity has proven itself, say all three mayors, who also express their gratitude to everyone who has helped their municipalities in any way.