Sun Sep 15 15:43:31 UTC 2024: ## Central Europe Batters by Devastating Floods, Death Toll Rises
**PRAGUE, Czech Republic** – Torrential rains continue to plague Central Europe, forcing mass evacuations and tragically claiming lives. The death toll has risen to seven, with five reported in Romania, one in Austria, and one in Poland. Several countries are grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, with Slovakia and Hungary potentially facing the same fate.
The unprecedented rainfall, caused by a low-pressure system originating from northern Italy, has battered the region since Thursday. The worst affected areas include the Czech Republic, specifically the northeastern regions, including the Jeseniky mountains. The Opava River has flooded, prompting the evacuation of approximately 10,000 people from the city of Opava. The situation is considered worse than the “flood of the century” in 1997, according to Mayor Tomáš Navrátil.
Other areas experiencing severe flooding include the towns of Krnov, Cesky Tesin, and Ostrava, the third-largest Czech city. The Oder River has reached extreme levels, forcing mass evacuations. In the Jeseniky mountains, houses and infrastructure have been destroyed, leaving several towns isolated.
Austria has also been severely impacted, with the entire state of Lower Austria declared a disaster zone. Emergency personnel have evacuated 1,100 houses, and 2,400 soldiers are assisting in the relief effort. The Wien River overflowed in Vienna, flooding homes.
Romania has reported the highest number of deaths, with one additional fatality in the eastern county of Galati. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared the situation “dramatic” around the town of Klodzko, where rising waters have flooded streets and houses.
Scientists attribute the intensified rainfall to the hottest summer on record, driven by human-caused climate change. The weather pattern is expected to persist, raising concerns for further devastation.
First Piper 