The relentless downpour across Central Europe continues to wreak havoc, claiming eight lives and forcing the evacuation of thousands from their homes in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Austria. Triggered by a low-pressure system named Boris, the flooding has caused rivers to overflow, bridges to collapse, and severe damage to homes and infrastructure in the region. The devastation has been described as some of the worst flooding the area has seen in nearly three decades.
Widespread Impact Across Central Europe
The brunt of the flooding has been felt across multiple countries. In the Czech Republic, thousands of people were evacuated as swollen rivers burst their banks, submerging entire towns and causing widespread destruction. The Czech town of Lipova-lazne, 235 km east of Prague, was particularly hard hit, with torrential rainfall reaching 500 mm (19.7 inches) since Wednesday. Residents described the current flood as even worse than the infamous 1997 floods. “My house is under water, and I don’t know if I will even return to it,” said a local resident, Pavel Bily.
In neighbouring Poland, the historic town of Glucholazy near the Czech border saw one of its bridges collapse under the weight of the surging waters. Another bridge was destroyed in the mountain town of Stronie Slaskie, where a dam burst, compounding the damage. The Polish government is now considering declaring a state of disaster, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk announcing that the country would seek European Union aid to assist in recovery efforts.
Romania, which bore the brunt of the flooding on Saturday, continues to struggle with the aftermath. Four lives were lost in Romania on Saturday, and an additional two people were confirmed dead on Sunday. The eastern village of Slobozia Conachi was one of the worst-hit areas, where residents are grappling with the destruction of their homes. “Everything I have is destroyed,” said Victoria Salceanu, reflecting on the devastation.
Austria and Hungary: Areas Declared Disaster Zones
Austria, too, has been severely impacted by the heavy rains. In Lower Austria, the region surrounding Vienna, a firefighter tragically lost his life while participating in rescue operations. Authorities have declared parts of the area a disaster zone and are urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. Emergency services are stretched to their limits as rescue operations continue, and more rain and strong winds are forecast until Monday.
In Hungary, officials in Budapest have raised concerns about the rising waters of the Danube. Predictions suggest that the river will swell to more than 8.5 metres (27.9 feet) later this week, nearing the record level of 8.91 metres (29.2 feet) set in 2013. Authorities are preparing for potential flooding in Hungary’s capital, heightening fears of further devastation.
Disruption to Daily Life
Across the region, daily life has come to a standstill. Power cuts have affected nearly 250,000 households in the Czech Republic alone, while the internet and telephone services have been disrupted in many areas. Mirek Burianek, a resident of the Czech town of Jesenik, which has also been badly hit, expressed his frustration: “We don’t know what will be next. The internet network isn’t working, telephones don’t work … We are waiting for who will show up to help.”
In total, more than 10,000 people have been evacuated in the Czech Republic, as emergency services scramble to provide aid. Helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents trapped by rising waters in the Lipova-lazne district.
The Struggle to Recover
Despite a slight easing of the rain in Romania on Sunday, the clean-up and recovery efforts are expected to be lengthy. Thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, and many areas are still facing the threat of further flooding as rainwater from nearby mountains continues to flow downstream. Ferdinand Gampl, an 84-year-old resident of the Czech village of Visnova, expressed the dread many residents feel. “When it rains in the nearby mountains, it will arrive here in five or six hours,” he said.
Authorities across Central Europe are working tirelessly to prevent further loss of life, but with more rain forecast and infrastructure severely damaged, the full extent of the disaster remains unclear. As rescue and recovery efforts continue, the people of Central Europe face a long and difficult road ahead in the wake of this historic flooding.
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