Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
Torrential rainfall triggers lethal floods in Central and Eastern Europe
Severe floods resulting from heavy rainfall have ravaged regions of central and eastern Europe, resulting in the loss of at least four lives in Romania and necessitating evacuations in other nations. Intense precipitation has engulfed Romania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, resulting in escalating river levels and extensive inundation. Authorities are currently on high alert as emergency services throughout the region prepare for additional damage in the next days.
Incidence of Mortality in Romania Due to Escalating Flash Floods
Romania has reported the unfortunate loss of four lives in the southeastern area of Galați subsequent to a search and rescue effort. Emergency authorities verified the number of deaths as response teams attempted to rescue numerous people stranded by floods in 19 locations nationwide. Additionally, the heavy rainfall has resulted in substantial property destruction, leading to the evacuation of numerous residents from their residences due to the ongoing increase in water levels.
Czech Republic Issues The Most Severe Flood Warning
The Czech Republic is among the countries most severely affected, with 38 places receiving the highest flood warning classification. As a precautionary measure, authorities in Prague have elevated the city's flood barriers and effectively closed embankments and the zoo to the public. In Prague, a city deeply affected by the catastrophic floods of 2002, there is a deliberate avoidance of risk-taking. The steel gate of the Devil's Canal, a watercourse across the old Mala Strana area, was sealed to avoid the canal from exceeding its capacity.
Furthermore, authorities have cautioned that the Jeseniky mountains may experience substantial precipitation, maybe reaching 400mm in the coming days, which will result in elevated water levels in the River Oder. Anticipated this increase is projected to impact multiple cities and villages within the region.
Ukraine is confronted with perilous river levels, prompting ongoing evacuations.
The Interior Minister of Poland, Tomasz Siemoniak, has expressed apprehensions over the hazardous river levels in close proximity to the Czech border, namely in the municipalities of Morów and Głuchołazy. Water levels in several geographical regions have exceeded the safe thresholds by two meters, leading to the evacuation of inhabitants residing in low lying locations.
Poland is now facing challenges in four prominent rivers, as local authorities caution of possible evacuations and substantial structural damage in several towns. In provinces at risk, such as Lower Silesia and Małopolska, the government has stocked millions of sandbags as part of its emergency preparedness efforts. The closure of elevators in Wrocław has resulted in the usage of staircases by thousands of inhabitants, as a precautionary measure against potential floods.
Polish authorities, however, have endeavoured to provide reassurance to the public that although the situation is severe, it is not anticipated to surpass the magnitude of previous devastating events. “We are making preparations for localised flooding or flash floods,” Siemoniak stated, emphasising that the territorial army is ready and ready to respond.
Republics of Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary Plan for Severe Flooding
Austria, lately experiencing its highest recorded temperature in August, is also encountering severe precipitation. Meteorological organisations have issued warnings about the occurrence of 10 to 20cm of rainfall in several areas, with certain geographical locations anticipating much more than 20cm, especially in the hilly regions of Upper Austria and Lower Styria. According to the storm warning centre, UWZ, several regions are expected to exceed the previous rainfall records set in September within an only few days. Landslides and flooding are anticipated, with gale force winds predicted for Vienna.
The Austrian railway network, ÖBB, has recommended that travellers refrain from non-essential travel as the Tauern train line in Salzburg has been shut down owing to significant snowfall. International humanitarian organisations in the country are actively seeking volunteers to provide assistance in areas that have been impacted by floods.
Furthermore, Slovakia and Hungary are also under a state of heightened vigilance, since predictions indicate the occurrence of substantial precipitation and localised inundation in those nations.
An Emergency of Regional Scope
Cyclone Boris has caused catastrophic weather across central and eastern Europe on Thursday, characterised by powerful winds and persistent rainfall. The exacerbation of the floodwaters is being attributed to the already elevated river levels in the area, which is generating considerable uncertainty among both inhabitants and officials.
Emergency services in Poland, Czechia, Austria, and other impacted regions are currently on standby, while local governments are implementing efforts to minimise damage and preempt any more loss of life. The Czech Republic has refused demands from neighbouring Germany to cease the discharge of water from its reservoirs into the Vltava River due to concerns about the potential consequences on highly susceptible areas.
The present regional crisis underscores the increasing difficulties presented by severe weather phenomena throughout Europe, as authorities persist in handling both urgent reactions and long term measures to reduce their impact. Given the ongoing devastation caused by the floods, the primary concern is to guarantee the well-being of the inhabitants and avoid any more loss of life.
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