Thousands of volunteers help in flood relief efforts on Solidarity Day

According to Sandi Curk, a regional commander of the Civil Protection, some 11,000-12,000 people who have registered themselves through the Flood 2023 application were on the ground today, providing assistance in the flood-affected areas.

These include 90 groups of 30 to 100 people who have been instructed by the authorities where to help and what to do, with the largest number of volunteers having gathered in the Upper Savinja Valley and in Koroška (N).

In addition, around 2,000 people who own buildings in the affected areas or are their relatives and friends participated in the clean-up and reconstruction effort today.

"It is certain that aid will need to be provided in these areas for a long time, maybe even years," said Petra Bezjak Cirman, the director of the Government Communication Office.

Solidarity Day comes more than a week after extreme floods hit Slovenia, as authorities and volunteers continue to help out in the affected areas in what is the third day of organised deployment of volunteers.

Police, firefighters and civil protection have set up check points in Črna na Koroškem, Mežica, Solčava, Luče, Mozirje and Ljubno ob Savinji until further notice to regulate the number of volunteers arriving in these areas.

Among those helping out are also students, who organised the collection of financial aid and group departures to the affected areas. The Student Organisation of Slovenia said that they had already been active in this respect last week.

In addition to the work on the ground, donations in the form of funds and equipment also keep pouring in both from Slovenia and abroad.

Source: STA