The death toll from flooding in central Europe increased to eight on Sunday, as hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in the Czech Republic following days of severe rain that forced rivers to burst their banks in numerous areas of the country.
Boris, a low-pressure system, has unleashed downpours from Austria to Romania, resulting in some of the worst flooding in over three decades in hard-hit Czech and Polish districts.
The severity of the situation has prompted meteorologists to issue stark warnings about the potential for further catastrophic events. Climate experts are drawing connections between the intensity of these floods and the broader patterns of climate change, highlighting the urgent need for improved disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies across the region. Local authorities are now scrambling to implement emergency measures, including the reinforcement of flood defenses and the establishment of temporary shelters for displaced residents.
More rain and strong winds are expected until at least today, while the rain eased on Sunday in Romania, which suffered the brunt of flooding the day before. Over the weekend, thousands of homes were damaged, bridges were swept away, and at least 250,000 households, primarily in the Czech Republic, experienced power outages.
On Sunday, one person drowned in southwestern Poland, a firefighter helping with rescue attempts was slain in Austria, and two more people died in Romania, where floods took four lives on Saturday. In Lower Austria, the province around Vienna where the firefighter died, authorities declared the area a disaster zone and advised against non-essential travel.
The economic impact of these floods is expected to be substantial, with early estimates suggesting billions of euros in damages. Agricultural sectors have been particularly hard hit, with vast swathes of farmland submerged and livestock losses reported across affected areas. Insurance companies are bracing for a surge in claims, while governments are already discussing emergency funding measures to support recovery efforts.
A bridge collapsed in the medieval Polish town of Glucholazy, near the Czech border, prompting local officials to issue evacuation orders early Sunday. According to local media, another bridge collapsed in the alpine village of Stronie Slaskie after a dam ruptured, citing the Polish meteorology institute.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who has visited surrounding flooded districts, stated on the X platform that the government will declare a state of disaster and request European Union assistance.
In the Czech Republic, police said they were looking for three persons who were in a car that crashed into the river Staric on Saturday near Lipova-lazne, a village approximately 235 kilometers east of Prague. Rainfall in the area has totaled approximately 500mm since Wednesday.
Flood waters poured into Lipova-lazne and neighboring Jesenik, causing damage and transporting debris, according to Reuters film. Mirek Burianek, a Jesenik resident, said, "We don't know what will happen next." The internet and telephones are not working. We are waiting to see who will show up (to help).
According to Lipova-lazne resident Pavel Bily, the floods were worse than the ones that occurred in 1997. My house is under water, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to return, he remarked.
The human toll of this disaster extends beyond the immediate physical dangers. Mental health professionals are warning of the long-term psychological impacts on affected communities, particularly children and the elderly. Support services are being mobilized to provide counseling and assistance to those grappling with the trauma of displacement and loss. Meanwhile, environmental agencies are monitoring the potential release of hazardous materials from flooded industrial sites, raising concerns about long-term ecological consequences.
Residents in some waterlogged areas were expecting circumstances to worsen. When it rains (in the neighboring mountains), it takes five or six hours to come here, according to Ferdinand Gampl, an 84-year-old inhabitant of Visnova, 138 kilometers north of Prague.
A helicopter was utilized by emergency personnel to remove those who were stuck in the Lipova-lazne district. The chief of the fire service informed Czech television that over 10,000 people had been evacuated across the country.
Officials in Budapest, Hungary, upped projections for the Danube River to climb above 8.5m in the second half of this week, approaching a record of 8.91m set in 2013.
As the crisis unfolds, there has been an outpouring of solidarity from neighboring countries and international organizations. Rescue teams from across Europe have been deployed to assist local efforts, bringing specialized equipment and expertise. The European Union has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism, coordinating the delivery of aid and resources to the most affected areas. This collaborative response highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation in the face of increasingly frequent and severe weather events.
While the rain lessened in Romania, crews attempted to restore power to approximately 11,000 houses, and clean-up efforts began while homeowners assessed the damage. Victoria Salceanu told reporters in the eastern village of Slobozia Conachi that everything she owned had been destroyed.
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