Storm Boris Causes Devastating Floods Across Central and Eastern Europe
In a tragic turn of events, four individuals have lost their lives in Romania due to catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Boris. The storm has unleashed torrential rains and severe disruption across central and eastern Europe, with the hardest-hit areas being Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia as of Saturday, September 14.
Rescue services reported grim findings in Romania’s Galati region, where search teams discovered four bodies in the aftermath of the flood, which has damaged around 5,000 homes. Authorities have been actively rescuing individuals across 19 parts of the country, with video footage capturing the severity of the flooding in villages alongside the Danube River. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis expressed deep concern, stating, "We are again facing the effects of climate change which are increasingly present on the European continent with dramatic consequences. We must continue to strengthen our capacity to anticipate extreme weather events."
As echoed by Emil Dragomir, the mayor of Slobozia Conachi village, the crisis has reached "catastrophic proportions," declaring that 700 homes in his village alone have been inundated. Amid these challenges, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu is scheduled to visit the affected areas, while President Iohannis has extended his condolences to the families in mourning.
In the Czech Republic, authorities have mobilized around 100,000 firefighters to address the emergency, responding to nearly 2,900 incidents primarily attributed to fallen trees and flooding over the weekend. On Saturday, about 50,000 households were reported to be without electricity. The evacuations also included a hospital in Brno due to rising water levels. Environment Minister Petr Hladik noted, "The ground is now saturated, so all the rainwater is going to stay on the surface," indicating that the worst may still lie ahead.
Neighbored by crisis, Slovakia has declared a state of emergency in its capital, Bratislava, in anticipation of further dangers. In Poland, officials warned of worsening conditions particularly in the southwestern regions as the storm continues its assault, leading to the closure of the Golkowice border crossing with the Czech Republic and disrupting train services.
Austria faced harsh winds exceeding 146 kilometers per hour, with emergency responders tending to over 150 incidents in Vienna alone as they cleared roads and addressed flooded basements. The Styria region experienced power outages affecting around 4,000 homes, as Chancellor Karl Nehammer warned that the peak of the storm’s impact was still forthcoming.
In addition to rainfall, some western mountainous areas have been affected by heavy snowfall, causing traffic disruptions. Reports state that rescue teams have been dispatched to search for an individual missing after an avalanche in Tyrol, an unusual occurrence for mid-September, which had recently seen temperatures reach 30 degrees Celsius.
As Storm Boris continues its relentless assault on the region, the impact of climate change and extreme weather patterns is highlighted, urging nations to enhance their preparedness and response to such devastating natural disasters.
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