Record Flooding in Central Europe Forces Mass Evacuations Amid Torrential Rains

PRAGUE — Central Europe is reeling from severe flooding conditions, particularly in the Czech Republic, where relentless rains have driven authorities to evacuate thousands from their homes. Flood levels surged dramatically on Sunday, prompting fears of further escalation as meteorologists predict more heavy rainfall overnight.

Officials issued the highest flood alerts in nearly 90 areas across the nation. The eastern regions, particularly the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border, reported the most significant rainfall. In the city of Opava, nearly 10,000 residents were urged to move to higher ground as the Opava River overflowed, inundating neighborhoods and disrupting daily life.

“There’s no reason to wait,” stated Opava’s Mayor Tomáš Navrátil during an interview with Czech public radio. He expressed that the current circumstances surpassed those seen during the catastrophic floods of 1997, which were known as the “flood of the century.”

Prime Minister Petr Fiala also emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have to focus on saving lives.” The government planned to convene on Monday to evaluate the extent of the damage, with Fiala cautioning that the worst effects were not yet over.

Additionally, several towns, including Krnov and Cesky Tesin, have been heavily impacted. The Oder River has reached alarming levels in Ostrava and Bohumin, leading to widespread evacuations in those areas. Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, faces significant traffic disruptions and has seen fully paused train services.

In the surrounding Jeseniky mountains, towns and villages have been inundated, with roads transformed into lakes as emergency services worked diligently to assist those trapped. A military helicopter was deployed to facilitate evacuations in hard-hit regions.

Jesenik’s mayor, Zdenka Blistanova, reported devastating destruction, including numerous homes and extensive damage to bridges and roads. Additionally, police confirmed that four individuals are currently missing after being swept away by the floods.

By Sunday morning, approximately 260,000 households experienced power outages across the country. Traffic was severely disrupted on many roads, including the crucial D1 highway.

Tragic news also emerged from Lower Austria, where a firefighter lost his life after an accident while responding to flooding incidents. This led authorities to declare a disaster zone across the state. “We are experiencing difficult and dramatic hours in Lower Austria,” Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner remarked, adding that many residents are facing some of the toughest moments of their lives.

In Vienna, the Wien River threatened additional flooding, prompting evacuations of homes in the adjacent areas. The situation remains dire as residents confront rising waters.

In Romania, authorities reported an additional fatality related to flooding in the eastern county of Galati, following reports of four previous deaths due to unprecedented rainfall there.

The flooding crisis extends into Poland, where one individual is presumed dead amid significant water damage. Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the circumstances around the town of Klodzko as “dramatic,” with substantial rainfall affecting about 25,000 residents in the Sudetes mountains region.

As flooding worsened, the mayor of Glucholazy warned residents, stating, “we are drowning,” as he called for immediate evacuations to safer locations. The rising waters disrupted energy supplies and communications in various affected areas, leading officials to explore the use of satellite communications for assistance.

This surge of severe flooding across Central Europe, including regions in Romania, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary, is attributed to a low-pressure system from northern Italy dumping heavy rains. This weather pattern has followed a hot start to September, raising concerns about climate change and its impact on extreme weather events.

Scientists have noted that warmer atmospheric conditions, fueled by human-induced climate change, could lead to increased rainfall intensity, making regions more vulnerable to such flooding events.

Source: AP