The death toll from storm Boris, which sweeps through central and eastern Europe for another day, is rising. At least 10 people have lost their lives from Poland to Romania. At the same time, many rivers have overflowed, causing flooding in urban centers, but also in villages.
Many cities have been inundated with debris-filled waters after days of heavy rain.
The border areas between the Czech Republic and Poland were hit hard over the weekend. Some bridges collapsed and houses were destroyed, while villages and towns in eastern Romania were under water.
Poland’s government was due to meet on Monday morning to declare a state of disaster caused by storm Boris.
In pictures: Storm Boris leaves at least one dead and several missing in Czech Republic pic.twitter.com/fttXpACS4s
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) September 16, 2024
The report from the bad weather Boris
On the one hand, river waters on the Czech-Polish border began to recede. On the other hand, however, the floods are expanding to more areas. This has resulted in major cities in both countries remaining on high alert for ‘waterfall’ caused by Storm Boris.
In the Czech Republic, the overnight rise in the Morava River flooded 70% of the town of Litovel, 230 km east of Prague. The population of the area almost reaches 10,000 inhabitants. This has resulted in the closure of schools and health facilities, as its mayor said in a video he posted on Facebook.
Flooded parts of the northeastern Czech regional capital Ostrava forced authorities to shut down a power station that provides heating and hot water to the city, as well as two chemical plants.
More than 12,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on Sunday evening through X. At the same time, he called an emergency government meeting for Monday to focus on the bad weather Boris.
Storm Boris floods Central and Eastern Europe, causing 8 deaths and massive destruction, from Romania to Poland. Residents testify to a “spectacular” and alarming phenomenon. 🌧️ #StormBoris (Le HuffPost) pic.twitter.com/p9vn5vZCTG
— XNews France (@XNews_France) September 16, 2024
The death toll
Czech TV reported that the first victim had been confirmed, raising the death toll across the region.
In Romania, floods killed six people over the weekend.
At the same time, an Austrian firefighter lost his life on Sunday. A man also drowned in Poland. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak said he had information about a second death, which Reuters could not immediately confirm.
The water level in the Danube is rising
Polish Deputy Interior Minister Czeslaw Mrozek told public radio station Polskie Radio that thousands of firefighters, police and soldiers have been fighting the floods for the past 24 hours. The government, for its part, is still working to assess the scale of the damage.
“The government, as announced, will take a decision to declare a state of natural disaster. We are consulting with local governors,” he said.
Bratislava and Budapest are both bracing themselves as the level of the Danube rises following Storm Boris.
In Austria, river and lake levels fell overnight as rainfall eased. But officials said they were preparing for a second wave as heavier rain is expected in the coming hours.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in her message to X expressed her solidarity with the people who have been affected. He also stated that the EU will support them.
Heartfelt solidarity with all affected by the devastating floods in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.
My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
Thank you to all those helping for their tireless work. The EU stands ready to support.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 15, 2024
#Bad #weather #Boris #death #toll #rising #Rivers #overflowed
