Flooding in central Europe has claimed at least eight lives as heavy rains continue to wreak havoc across the region.
A low-pressure system named Boris has caused severe flooding from Austria to Romania, marking the worst floods in nearly 30 years in parts of the Czech Republic and Poland. Rivers burst their banks after days of torrential rain, forcing thousands to evacuate.
In the Czech Republic, over 10,000 people were displaced, and over 250,000 households experienced power outages. Bridges were destroyed, including one in the historic town of Glucholazy, Poland, where local authorities ordered immediate evacuations.
A dam also burst in Stronie Slaskie, exacerbating the flooding. In Austria, a firefighter was killed during rescue efforts, and officials declared the Lower Austria region surrounding Vienna a disaster zone.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to declare a state of disaster and seek European Union aid. Meanwhile, in Romania, where four people died over the weekend, authorities are working to restore power to thousands of homes as the rain began to ease.
Authorities are still searching for three missing individuals whose car was swept into the Staric River near Lipova-Lazne, Czech Republic, where rainfall has reached over 500 mm since Wednesday. Residents fear conditions may worsen as rain from nearby mountains is expected to flow downstream in the coming hours.
In Hungary, the river Danube is forecasted to rise to nearly 8.5 meters, approaching record levels.
As the clean-up begins in Romania, affected residents are surveying the extensive damage to their homes and property, bracing for potential further challenges as rain and strong winds continue.
