Death Toll Rises as Flooding Forces Mass Evacuations in Central Europe

PRAGUE (AP) — Central Europe is grappling with rising floodwaters as heavy rains persist, leading to evacuations and tragically increasing the death toll throughout the region.

Several countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, have already experienced severe flooding. Slovakia and Hungary could soon be impacted as a low-pressure system originating from northern Italy releases record amounts of rain since Thursday.

In Romania alone, six fatalities have been confirmed, with one each reported in Austria and Poland. Authorities in the Czech Republic are searching for four individuals who were swept away by floodwaters.

The flooding situation in the Czech Republic has escalated, prompting the highest flood warnings to be declared in around 100 locations. The hardest-hit areas are in two northeastern regions, which have received the greatest rainfall recently, particularly around the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border.

In Opava, a city of approximately 56,000 residents, up to 10,000 people have been urged to evacuate to safer areas. Rescuers employed boats to assist individuals in a neighborhood submerged by the surging Opava River.

Mayor Tomáš Navrátil described the devastation on Czech public radio, comparing it unfavorably to the catastrophic floods of 1997, often referred to as the “flood of the century.”

“We have to focus on saving lives,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized during a broadcast on public television. His government is scheduled to convene Monday to evaluate the aftermath of the floods.

Fiala indicated that the situation was still precarious, noting that the worst might not yet be over as the flooding continues to spread across the country.

In contrast, President Petr Pavel expressed a degree of optimism, remarking that the nation appears to have learned from past crises.

Thousands more have been evacuated from the towns of Krnov, which experienced extensive flooding, and Cesky Tesin. The Oder River, which extends into Poland, is currently at alarming levels in the cities of Ostrava and Bohumin, resulting in widespread evacuations.

Ostrava, the regional capital and Czech Republic’s third-largest city, is facing anticipated traffic disruptions in the coming days, with nearly all train services suspended in the affected regions.

Communities in the Jeseniky mountains, including Jesenik itself, are thoroughly inundated, with roads transformed into torrents of water, isolating many areas. Military helicopters have been deployed to assist in the evacuation efforts.

Jesenik’s mayor, Zdenka Blistanova, relayed distressing news that several homes in her town and nearby areas have been destroyed. Many roads and bridges have also suffered significant damage.

On Sunday morning, around 260,000 households throughout the Czech Republic were without electricity, while extensive traffic disruptions were reported on numerous roadways, including the main D1 highway.

A tragedy struck in Lower Austria, where a firefighter lost his life after slipping while pumping out water from a flooded basement in the town of Tulln. Such incidents highlight the increasing challenges emergency responders are facing.

The state of Lower Austria has officially been declared a disaster zone, and approximately 10,000 relief workers have evacuated over 1,100 homes. Emergency teams have begun to set up temporary accommodations for affected residents.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer spoke to reporters following a crisis meeting in Vienna, expressing concern that conditions are deteriorating. He stated that around 2,400 soldiers are on standby to assist in relief operations, with 1,000 soldiers designated for the disaster zone in Lower Austria, where the threat of dam breaches is imminent.

Nehammer is expected to visit the affected areas in Lower Austria later today. “We are experiencing difficult and dramatic hours in Lower Austria. For many people in Lower Austria, these will probably be the most challenging moments of their lives,” commented Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the region’s governor.

In the capital, Vienna, the Wien River overflowed its banks, flooding residences and triggering initial evacuations of nearby homes.

In Romania, authorities announced two more fatalities due to the flooding, raising the total to six in the hard-hit eastern county of Galati.

Flooding in Poland has also been alarming, with one individual presumed dead in the southwest region. Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the crisis, describing the situation in the vicinity of the town of Klodzko as “dramatic.”

Helicopters have been deployed in some cases to rescue individuals stranded on roofs due to rising waters. In Glucholazy, overwhelmed by flooding, the mayor expressed despair, urging residents to move to higher ground.

Amidst the chaos, a bridge in the area collapsed under the strain of the flood, and a police station was destroyed in Stronie Śląskie after floodwaters breached the town’s dam. Submerged vehicles dotted the Kłodzko Valley region, and a new flood wave is anticipated.

Power and communication services have been disrupted in many flooded regions, with some areas turning to satellite-based services for assistance. The uncommon weather shift follows an unusually warm start to September, as scientists confirmed that the summer of 2023 was one of the hottest on record, a trend linked to climate change.

Source: Associated Press