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The death toll in central Europe continues to rise as ‘dramatic’ flooding takes hold in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria. Thousands of people are being evacuated to higher ground as authorities believe that the worst may still be ahead.
Fatalities have been reported in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Austria, with authorities warning that more tragedies may occur. The death toll from the floods and severe rain in central and eastern Europe has now reached at least 16, with many more individuals still missing.
In the Czech Republic, a woman drowned when a creek in Bruntál, a town of around 15,000 people, overflowed its banks on Monday. Seven additional people are still missing in the area. In Austria, two men aged 70 and 80 perished in the towns of Böheimkirchen and Sierndorf after being trapped in their homes by rising floodwaters.
Tragic incidents have also been reported in Poland, where a surgeon drowned in the town of Nysa while returning from hospital duty. Four more individuals lost their lives in the cities of Bielsko-Biała and Lądek-Zdrój in the south. The total number of Polish casualties now stands at six.
Storm Boris has caused widespread devastation across several countries in central Europe, with hundreds of thousands of people forced to flee their homes in Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. Dams have ruptured, streets are flooded, power outages are widespread, and entire neighborhoods have been submerged in some areas.
Austrian resident Judith Dickson described the flooding as the worst she has seen in 16 years, emphasizing the severity of the situation. Photos from the flooded regions in Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Austria have been described as ‘dramatic’ by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and pledged support from Germany.
As the Danube river swells, the capitals of Hungary and Slovakia, Budapest and Bratislava, are bracing for potential catastrophic floods. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer highlighted the deteriorating situation in Lower Austria, which has been declared a disaster zone. Over 10,000 relief workers have evacuated 1,100 homes in the state, with thousands more families affected.
In Lilienfeld, a municipality with 25,000 residents, authorities reported total isolation and widespread damage due to flooding. Thousands of families have been left without basic necessities such as water and electricity as a result of 12 burst dams.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala urged residents to follow the instructions of local authorities and emergency services. He reported that 12,000 people have been displaced nationwide, with over 200 regions currently experiencing flooding. Fiala emphasized the importance of caution and responsibility in the face of ongoing challenges.
The mayor of Litovel, a city in the Czech Republic, disclosed that 70% of the city was submerged due to the rising Morava River, necessitating the closure of schools and hospitals. Infrastructure disruptions have also occurred, with a power plant in Ostrava, the third-largest Czech city, ceasing operations due to technical issues.
In the face of unprecedented flooding, Romania’s Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu vowed to restore affected areas and provide support to those impacted by the disaster. The situation in the Galati region has been described as devastating, with one resident recounting the loss of their home and belongings to the floodwaters.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity with the flood victims and pledged financial assistance from the EU. As the situation continues to evolve, efforts are underway to address the immediate needs of those affected and rebuild communities impacted by the catastrophic flooding in central Europe.
