Tonight the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia revisited the area of Železniki affected in yesterday's storm. He was briefed on the current situation and the measures implemented by the Mayor of Železniki, Mihael Prevc, and the Commander of the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

After the meeting, the PM said that the most severe effects of the natural disaster were still being dealt with and that the authorities were trying to restore decent living conditions. "Then it we will have to asses the damage. We will make every effort to do this as soon as possible and then take measures to relieve the damage," said the PM, who called on all authorities to act quickly.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

According to the PM, many measures will have to be taken to restore normal life, as the damage is very severe. "But now the most important thing is to provide decent living conditions to people and to gain access to places, as some have been cut off." He added that during the day, electricity would be restored and that the areas of the Selce Valley, which are cut off, would be supplied by helicopter. Tomorrow, the road connection to the village of Zali log will be reopened. The Slovenian Armed Forces will build a pontoon bridge if the road authority fails to do so. "Even a temporary clean-up of the road to Davča is a far bigger problem, as there are at least 2 kilometres of road missing in a section 10 kilometres long," said the PM.

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

To repair the damage, the Government has decided to use all budgetary reserves. "Until we have a comprehensive assessment of the damage, we will not use it for anything else. We will provide the necessary means to all indirectly affected sectors – education and health services – by reallocating from other budgetary items, so that we can get the necessary money to restore schools, community health centres and other damaged buildings," said PM Janz Janša. He stressed that would apply to all affected areas in Slovenia, as several thousand building in the regions of Cerklje, Tolmin, Kamnik-Savinja, Celje and Laško are flooded. "There too, at the moment the rescue services are mainly helping to restore decent living conditions."

 

(Photo: Srdjan Živulovič/Bobo)

 

With regard to government aid to companies affected by the storm, particularly in the area of Železniki, the PM said he expected most damage would be covered by insurance. As these are predominantly technologically advanced companies whose programmes compete for development funds, the Government will try its best to help them. These issues will be addressed at a meeting with the PM today.