Destructive Flooding in Central Europe: Storm Boris Claims Lives and Causes Widespread Damage
Flooding triggered by Storm Boris in Central Europe has led to the bursting of dams, power outages, and the tragic loss of at least 15 lives, authorities reported on Monday, September 16. As the disaster unfolded over four days, many communities faced isolation following high winds and unprecedented rainfall that swept across Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia since Friday.
Judith Dickson, a resident of Sankt Pölten in Austria, expressed her shock at the unprecedented flooding, stating, "I have lived here for 16 years and I have never seen such flooding.” Experts attribute the increased frequency and intensity of these extreme weather events, including the torrential rains and floods, to climate change driven by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
The impact of Storm Boris has been severe, with streets submerged and entire neighborhoods affected. Public transportation and electricity services have come to a halt in various regions. In Austria, tragic reports indicate that an elderly couple, aged 70 and 80, were discovered deceased in their submerged homes in Lower Austria, the province hardest hit by the flooding. A firefighter also lost their life while responding to the emergency.
Since Thursday, certain parts of Austria have received five times the average monthly rainfall for September, according to Geosphere, a meteorological forecaster. The flooding has breached 12 dams, leading to muddy rivers overflowing and leaving thousands without power and clean water. Several areas remain cut off, prompting hundreds to be airlifted from rooftops and other precarious locations.
The consequences of this disaster have extended beyond Austria. The storm's effects have meant that a river cruise ship carrying 142 people, mostly Swiss tourists, had to dock in Vienna as a safety precaution.
In the Czech Republic and Poland, authorities are grappling with rising death tolls, evacuations, and extensive destruction in the most severely impacted areas. One person drowned in a swollen river near Bruntal in the northeast of the Czech Republic, with up to seven people reported missing. Polish authorities have updated their death toll to four, although they note that the details concerning the causes of death remain under investigation. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a significant relief package of 1 billion zloty (approximately 260 million euros) for those affected by the storm, which has forced thousands from their homes.
While some areas, like Klodzko in Poland, are beginning to see waters recede, revealing severe destruction, concerns linger about potential further flooding in northern regions. Footage captured in Klodzko illustrates the chaos, showing waterlogged streets littered with debris and shattered shop windows. In the border town of Glucholazy, residents sought refuge in a local school as the floodwaters surged.
In Romania, the dire situation has also escalated, with the death toll climbing to seven. Rescuers reported instances of individuals climbing onto rooftops to escape rising waters, with Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu noting that the volume of water exceeding that of previous floods was "almost three times bigger,” underscoring the challenge of coping with such extreme weather.
In response to the rising waters, Hungary has mobilized over 350 soldiers to reinforce flood barriers as the Danube River and its tributaries are projected to swell even further.
As Central Europe faces the aftermath of Storm Boris, the ongoing threat of severe weather due to climate change looms ever larger, emphasizing the urgent need for mitigation strategies to combat these increasingly frequent natural disasters.
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