Sun Sep 15 14:16:57 UTC 2024: ## Central Europe Flooded: Two Dead, Thousands Evacuated, Infrastructure Disrupted
Heavy rainfall across Central Europe has caused widespread flooding, claiming two lives in Austria and Poland and forcing thousands to evacuate their homes. The situation is particularly dire in south-western Poland and the Czech Republic, where rivers have burst their banks and dams have collapsed.
In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed the first fatality, a man whose home flooded in the village of Krosnovice. Over 1,600 people have been evacuated in the Kłodzko district, with more evacuations expected. The Nysa Kłodzka river in Kłodzko has reached a record-breaking 6.65 meters, six times its average level. Power and communication networks have been disrupted in many affected areas.
Across the border in the Czech Republic, at least four people are missing after the flooding. Authorities have called for citizens to heed evacuation orders, warning that some people are refusing to leave their homes, endangering themselves and potential rescuers. The city of Opava and surrounding areas have been flooded, forcing thousands to evacuate. A mudslide has isolated the mountain village of Malá Úpa. More than 250,000 Czech households are without electricity due to fallen trees and damaged power lines.
In Austria, a firefighter died while working in a flooded building in Lower Austria, which has been declared a disaster zone. Numerous rivers in the state have swelled, leading to evacuations and rescue operations. The Wien river in Vienna has also flooded, impacting walking paths, restaurant terraces, and an underground car park.
In Romania, at least four people died in the Eastern European country after heavy rainstorms.
The flooding has also severely disrupted rail services in multiple countries. Vienna’s underground lines have been affected, and Austrian rail operator ÖBB suspended train services south of the Danube. Cross-border rail connections between Poland and the Czech Republic have also been halted.
Authorities are urging residents in affected areas to stay vigilant and heed evacuation orders, as the situation remains volatile and further flooding is anticipated.
First Piper 