Prime Minister Janez Janša this afternoon visited the Podravje region to witness firsthand the consequences of yesterday's storm. At Ptuj, he also met Miran Bogataj, Commander of the Slovenian Civil Protection, who informed him of the initial damage assessment.

 

 

(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)

 

According to the Prime Minister, the storm, which hit at least 47 municipalities, caused enormous damage. He noted, however, that one should not forget the consequences of storms from the recent past. "One could say that as regards storms and their consequences, this year was disastrous," was the Prime Minister's assessment. He continued by saying that caution should be exercised in the autumn months as well, as the forecast was not very promising.

 

(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)

 

PM Janez Janša reaffirmed that the Government would discuss the storm's consequences at its first regular session next Thursday, when individual municipalities were expected to provide the initial damage assessments. The Government will adopt measures stipulated for such situations, including financial aid for municipalities to cover the costs of the first intervention measures and material used for this purpose.  Direct aid for families will also be distributed, as in similar cases, through municipalities or municipal commissions. According to the Civil Protection, supplementary official damage assessments will be submitted to the Government within one month. Prime Minister Janša said that the Government would then, if necessary, propose to the National Assembly the adoption of certain measures.

 

(Photo: Nebojša Tejić/Salomon 2000)

 

The Prime Minister did not wish to speculate on this occasion about the amount required to remedy the storm's consequences, as the figures acquired to date were only partial. He noted that more than 3,000 buildings had been damaged, some of them only slightly, while others had been totally destroyed. The agricultural damage remains a complete unknown. "Where crops, vineyards and forests were completely destroyed, long-term damage also occurred," said the Prime Minister. He added that the Government would also try to provide funds for self-help in agriculture. If necessary, the Government would also propose a supplementary budget, PM Janez Janša concluded.