EUROPEAN UNION - A slow-moving low-pressure air system, dubbed Storm Boris, has dumped months of rain on several European countries, leading to widespread flooding and severe disruptions. Among the worst affected regions are Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania and Slovakia.
Authorities issued red alerts in several countries, including Germany and Poland, as heavy rainfall persisted on Monday.
In the Polish district of Klodzko, one person drowned and thousands of people were evacuated after local rivers overflowed their banks. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the deaths on Sunday and said "the situation is still very dramatic in many places". Tusk also said Poland would declare a state of disaster and ask the European Union for help.
Austria also suffered significant flooding. In Lower Austria, a firefighter died during rescue work. In response, the authorities declared the area a disaster zone. Many municipalities across the region have declared a state of emergency as the rain continues to swell rivers and flood towns.
The Czech Republic is facing some of the worst flooding in decades. President Petr Pavel warned that the floods are far from over and warned that the country's poorest regions could face serious damage.
More than 10 000 people have been evacuated and almost 80 % of Krnov are under water. "Water is pouring over the whole of Krnov," said deputy mayor Miroslav Binar. "We estimate that 70 to 80 percent of the city is under water."
Romania has also experienced devastation, with six people killed and thousands of homes damaged since Saturday. Rescuers have saved hundreds of stranded residents. "The most critical consequences were in seven localities," Interior Minister Cătălin Predoiu said.
Floods also caused significant damage in Slovakia and Hungary, where rivers rose to near-record levels. The level of the Danube in Budapest is expected to rise to more than 8.5 metres, approaching an all-time high. EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, expressed solidarity with the affected countries. Von der Leyen expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and offered support to those coping with the disaster.
Precipitation is expected to ease as Storm Boris moves south, but flooding could persist in already-watered areas.
CMG / CGTN / photo: TASS / gnews.cz-jav_07
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