Massive floods struck Central Europe on Monday, resulting in five more deaths— four in Poland and one in the Czech Republic, Asscoiated Press.
After an emergency government meeting, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a state of natural disaster in the flooded regions to speed up evacuations, rescue operations, and financial assistance for victims. The report said that the Finance Ministry allocated 1 billion zlotys ($258,000) for immediate aid.
Although water levels have receded, the floods left behind debris, mud, damaged bridges, and breached dams. Schools and offices in the affected areas were closed, while food and drinking water were being delivered to victims. Many cities, including Warsaw, urged residents to donate food for those affected.
In Opole, a city of 130,000, experts warned of a flood risk as the Oder River overflowed in some areas. Wroclaw, a city with 640,000 residents, was also preparing for a potential floodwave expected by Wednesday, recalling the devastating flood it suffered in 1997.
The death toll in southwestern Poland increased to five after a surgeon’s body was found in Nysa. Earlier, two men and two women were found dead in the towns of Bielsko-Biala and Ladek-Zdroj, and in nearby villages.
In the Czech Republic, police reported that one woman drowned in the northeast, an area hit by record rainfall since Thursday, with seven people still missing.
The floods have claimed lives across the region, with six fatalities in Romania and one in Austria. Czech authorities declared a state of emergency in two northeastern regions, where the worst flooding occurred.
Inundation forced thousands to evacuate in towns and cities, with military helicopters aiding rescue efforts. By Monday, floodwaters began to recede, leaving behind destroyed infrastructure and damaged roads, the new agency reported.
As the floods progressed toward southeastern Czech Republic, the town of Litovel and parts of Ostrava were submerged, prompting further evacuations. In Ostrava, many schools were closed, and 120,000 households were left without power.
The floodwaters, which have affected Austria, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic, were expected to impact Slovakia and Hungary next, with heavy rains continuing from a low-pressure system originating in northern Italy.
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán canceled foreign engagements to manage the impending crisis, as Budapest prepared for the largest floods in a decade. Mayor Gergely Karácsony announced plans to use 1 million sandbags to reinforce flood defenses, urging residents to exercise caution near the Danube River.
