TORRENTIAL RAINS IN ROMANIA IN RECENT DAYS HAVE KILLED NINE PEOPLE AND FORCED THE EVACUATION OF HUNDREDS OF VILLAGERS, AUTHORITIES SAID ON FRIDAY. POLICE SAID A PERSON DIED IN ARAD COUNTY, CLOSE TO HUNGARY, AND ANOTHER DIED IN NORTHERN MARAMURES COUNTY. THE SEVEN OTHER DEATHS WERE BISTRITA NASAUD COUNTY, THE MOST AFFECTED AREA. SIX PEOPLE WERE MISSING IN BISTRITA NASAUD AND AROUND 1,440 HOUSES WERE DAMAGED IN 87 VILLAGES AFFECTED BY FLOODING ACROSS THE COUNTRY. "IT IS VERY HARD TO FIND THE MISSING PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF MUD AND LOGS BROUGHT BY SWOLLEN WATERS," MIHAELA DOBRA, THE GOVERNMENT'S REPRESENTATIVE IN THE REGION, TOLD REUTERS.