Flooding Forces Evacuations in Czech Republic and Poland

PRAGUE — Central Europe has been battered by relentless rainfall, leading to extensive evacuations in the Czech Republic as flooding reached alarming levels over the weekend.

Meteorologists have indicated that the situation may worsen as river levels continue to rise. The flood wave is progressing through the country, and heavy rains are expected to return overnight.

Authorities have issued the highest flood warnings in nearly 90 locations across the Czech Republic. Two northeastern regions, particularly the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border, have experienced the worst rainfall.

In the city of Opava, around 10,000 residents from a population of 56,000 have been urged to seek refuge on higher ground. Rescuers have utilized boats to evacuate individuals trapped in a neighborhood overwhelmed by the surging waters of the Opava River.

Mayor Tomáš Navrátil emphasized the urgency, advising citizens, “There’s no reason to wait.” He noted that the conditions are even more severe than those experienced during the catastrophic floods of 1997, which were referred to as the “flood of the century.”

In addition to Opava, thousands of residents were also evacuated from towns such as Krnov and Cesky Tesin. The Oder River, which flows into Poland, is expected to reach dangerously high levels in the city of Ostrava and subsequently in Bohumin.

Towns and villages situated in the Jeseniky mountains, including the regional center of Jesenik, are now isolated due to severe flooding that has transformed roads into rivers. The military has been deployed to assist with evacuations, dispatching a helicopter to aid in the efforts.

Tragically, four individuals have been reported missing after being swept away by the rising waters, according to police reports.

By Sunday morning, approximately 260,000 households throughout the country were without power, and many roads were closed, impacting traffic flow on significant routes, including the major D1 highway.

The situation in Poland is similarly distressing. One individual is presumed dead in the floods affecting the southwest, as stated by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He described the conditions as “dramatic” around the town of Klodzko, home to about 25,000 residents, nestled in a valley of the Sudetes mountains near the Czech border.

In Glucholazy, floodwaters overflowed a river embankment, inundating streets and homes. Mayor Paweł Szymkowicz remarked, “we are drowning,” urging residents to evacuate to safer elevations.

The floods have cut off energy supplies and communications in several affected regions. Prime Minister Tusk indicated that some areas might need to rely on satellite-based Starlink service for connectivity.

The severe flooding has not been confined to the Czech Republic and Poland; several Central European nations are grappling with similar challenges. In Romania, the floods have resulted in four fatalities, while countries like Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary also contend with the consequences of a low-pressure system originating from northern Italy that has brought heavy rainfall across the region.

This sudden weather change follows a remarkably warm start to September, particularly noted in Romania. Scientists have recorded the hottest summer on Earth, with temperatures surpassing previous records set just a year prior.

The increasing heat in the atmosphere, exacerbated by human-induced climate change, is contributing to the intensity and frequency of heavy rain events.