Severe Flooding Hits Central and Eastern Europe, Claiming Multiple Lives

Parts of central and eastern Europe are experiencing some of the worst rainfall for decades, causing widespread flooding and chaos, resulting in 7 deaths.

Foreign news agencies reported that a slow-moving low-pressure area called “Storm Boris” caused heavy rain equivalent to a month’s worth of rain in the capitals of European countries, including Vienna in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia and Prague, Czech Republic. The rain is expected to continue until Sunday, September 15, 2024.

In Poland, victims were found, with one person drowning in the Klodzko area in the south-west of the country. In Austria, one firefighter died while performing his duties. In Romania, the fifth death due to flooding has been reported.

Romanian rescue workers are struggling to help hundreds of people stuck in different places due to heavy rain and flooding. So far, officers have rescued 95 people who were stuck in their homes, but officers also found the body of the deceased inside the house or their backyard.

The Romanian authorities also reported that they recorded the heaviest rain in 100 years during the last 24 hours. The most damaged area was in the south-eastern area of Galati, which had almost 5,400 houses damaged.

Meanwhile, rivers in Poland and the Czech Republic overflowed their banks, with Poland authorities evacuating more than 1,600 people in the Quadzko area after the water overflowed and flooded some areas.

Since the storm hit Europe, the Czech Republic has had to evacuate people in different places, with more than 10,500 people already arriving. President Peter Pavel warned that the flood situation is far from over, and the poorest regions of the country will probably suffer the most in the coming days.

The city of Krnov, northeastern Czech Republic, has been severely affected, with more than 80% of the water already flooded. The water was close to reaching City Hall, and two-thirds of the city square was flooded.

In Germany, states in the south and east are scrambling to prepare for flooding. In neighboring Austria, the rain fell so heavily that the Lai Son River overflowed its banks. Officers who were in danger had to be sent to save the situation in several areas of the country. Several areas in Lower Austria have had to declare a state of emergency due to continuous rain.