The death toll from unprecedented flooding in Central Europe has risen to 10 as more rivers burst their banks. Towns have been inundated with debris-laden waters after days of heavy rain.
Border areas between the Czech Republic and Poland were hit hard over the weekend. Bridges collapsed and houses were destroyed, while villages and towns in eastern Romania were submerged. Poland’s government was due to meet this morning declare a state of emergency.
Although the waters of some rivers on the Czech border – Poland began to ease today, flooding is spreading to more areas, with major cities in both countries remaining on alert.
“I don’t have any more money”
The shocking images of Storm Boris, which caused 8 deaths in Central Europe pic.twitter.com/CBjtHV2dPf
-BFMTV (@BFMTV) September 16, 2024
In the Czech Republic, the night-time rise of the Morava River caused flooding 70% of the city of Litovel230 km east of Prague and with a population of almost 10,000, as a result of the closure of schools and health facilities, its mayor said in a video he posted on Facebook.
BREAK
To understand the scale of the flooding in Poland, see these images.
The first shows the dam and its surroundings about a month ago. The video captured the same dam last night as it overflowed.#Flood#Flood#PolandFloods#Boris#boris2024#Poland… pic.twitter.com/vMhUhRTmKl
– LukaBlack (@14Lukasz02) September 15, 2024
Flooded parts of the northeastern Czech Republic’s regional capital Ostrava have forced authorities to shut down a power plant that supplies the city with heating and hot water, as well as two chemical plants.
More than 12,000 People have been evacuated from their homes in the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said via X yesterday, Sunday evening, as he called an emergency government meeting for today.
Czech TV reported that the first victim had been confirmed, increasing the death toll across the region.
Node RomaniaFloods killed six people over the weekend and a firefighter died on Sunday in Austria. A man also drowned on Sunday in Poland. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said he had information about a second death, which Reuters could not immediately confirm.
Bell for the Danube
Poland’s Deputy Interior Minister Czeslaw Mrozek told public broadcaster Polskie Radio on Monday that thousands of firefighters, police and soldiers have been battling the floods over the past 24 hours, while the government is still working to assess the scale of the damage.
“The government, as announced, will take the decision to declare a state of natural disaster… We are consulting with local governors,” he said.
Bratislava and Budapest are both preparing for the Danube rise.
In Austria, river and lake levels fell overnight as rainfall eased, but authorities said they were bracing for a second wave, with heavier rain expected in the coming hours.
Announcement by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, expressed its condolences for the victims of the floods and its solidarity with the affected areas.
Our sincere solidarity with Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia affected by the devastating floods.
We offer our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and express our solidarity with all those affected. #Greece is ready to help. pic.twitter.com/VZx0g6dZ4C
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs (@GreeceMFA) September 16, 2024
The President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen In a message to X, she expressed her solidarity with those affected and said that the EU would support them.
naftemporiki.gr with information from APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters
