Flooding in central Europe has reached a catastrophic level, with the death toll rising to 15 people across several countries. Over the weekend, heavy rains caused rivers to overflow, collapsing bridges, flooding homes, and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. Countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania have been hit the hardest, and more flooding is expected as rain continues.
Poland Declares State of Emergency
Poland has declared a state of natural disaster in areas affected by the flooding. The government has allocated 1 billion zlotys (about $260 million) to help those affected. Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that he is working with other European leaders to request financial aid from the European Union.
In the town of Klodzko, near the Czech border, floodwaters have receded, but much of the city is still without electricity. The mayor, Michal Piszko, said they urgently need bottled water and food supplies. Nearby, in Nysa, a hospital had to evacuate patients, including pregnant women and old people, as floodwaters rose.
Czech Republic and Romania Struggle with Aftermath
In Jesenik, a Czech town that was heavily flooded, residents are now beginning to clean up. Streets are littered with debris, damaged cars, and mud. “There were two meters of water that ran through the street,” said local resident Zdenek Kuzilek. “There are many destroyed cars, no water, no electricity.”
Romania is also dealing with severe flooding, especially in the town of Slobozia Conachi. Mayor Emil Dragomir described the devastation, saying people were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. Six people have died in Romania due to the floods.
More Areas Brace for Flooding
While water levels are receding in some areas, others are preparing for the worst. In Poland, the Topola reservoir has overflowed, sending water toward nearby villages, prompting evacuations. In Wroclaw, a city with 600,000 people, authorities are preparing for water levels to peak on Wednesday.
In the Czech Republic, the rising Morava River has flooded nearly 70% of the town of Litovel, forcing schools and hospitals to shut down. The northeastern city of Ostrava has also been affected, with floods forcing the closure of a power plant and two chemical plants.
Danube River Threatens Slovakia and Hungary
The flooding is also threatening cities along the Danube River, including Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, and Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Hungarian authorities have put 12,000 soldiers on standby to help keep the river and its tributaries from overflowing.
Austria Prepares for More Rain
In Austria, river and reservoir levels have temporarily fallen as the rain subsided, but authorities are bracing for more floods as heavier rain is expected in the coming days. Over the weekend, an Austrian firefighter died, and two old men were found drowned in their homes in Lower Austria.
As central Europe battles these unprecedented floods, the damage is still being assessed, and authorities across the region are doing everything they can to protect people from the ongoing disaster.
