Sun Sep 15 10:56:10 UTC 2024: ## Storm Boris Wreaks Havoc Across Europe, Leaving a Trail of Death and Destruction

**Central and eastern Europe are grappling with the devastating aftermath of Storm Boris, which has brought torrential rains and high winds to the region since September 12.** The storm has claimed the lives of at least six people, including a Polish man who drowned and an Austrian fireman who died while responding to floods.

**Poland:** In the Klodzko region, bordering the Czech Republic, one person has drowned, prompting Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to travel to the area, which has been hardest hit by the floods. Around 1,600 people have been evacuated from their homes, and the Polish army has been called in to assist firefighters. The Golkowice border crossing with the Czech Republic has been shut down due to flooding, along with several roads and train lines.

**Austria:** A fireman died while responding to floods in the Lower Austria region, which has been declared a natural disaster zone. Emergency services have conducted nearly 5,000 interventions overnight, as flooding trapped many residents in their homes. The Tyrol region has been hit by heavy snowfall, an unusual event for mid-September, while rail services in the east of the country have been suspended.

**Czech Republic:** Four people are reported missing, including three in a car that was swept into a river and another man who was swept away by floods. A dam in the south of the country has burst its banks, flooding towns and villages downstream.

**Romania:** Four people died in floods in southeastern Romania, with the bodies found in the worst-affected region, Galati, where 5,000 homes have been damaged. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has attributed the flooding to the effects of climate change. Thousands of people have been rescued across the country, and images of flooded homes by the Danube River have been released.

**Slovakia:** A state of emergency has been declared in the capital, Bratislava.

**Vienna:** The Wien River is threatening to overflow its banks, and several metro lines have been shut down. Firefighters have intervened around 150 times since September 13 to clear storm debris and pump water from cellars.

The storm has highlighted the increasing impact of climate change on Europe, with authorities urging residents to take precautions and remain vigilant as the situation continues to develop.

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