Sun Sep 15 16:51:12 UTC 2024: ## Storm Boris Pummels Central Europe, Leaving 8 Dead and Thousands Evacuated
**Vienna, Austria** – Heavy rains unleashed by Storm Boris have wreaked havoc across Central and Eastern Europe, leaving at least eight people dead and thousands evacuated from flooded homes. The storm, characterized by torrential downpours and strong winds, has impacted Austria, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic since Thursday.
The latest fatalities include a fireman who died responding to floodwaters in Lower Austria, and two people who drowned in Romania. One person also died in Poland as a result of the floods.
Across the affected regions, rivers have burst their banks, submerging entire neighborhoods and forcing authorities to shut down public transport and electricity in some areas. In Austria’s Tyrol region, heavy snowfall blanketed the area – an unusual occurrence for mid-September, which typically sees temperatures in the 80s Fahrenheit.
Romania has been particularly hard hit, with over 5,000 households and 15,000 people affected by the floods. President Klaus Iohannis has linked the devastation to climate change, stating that the region is increasingly experiencing its effects with “dramatic consequences.”
In the Czech Republic, four people are still missing after the floods, and a dam in the south of the country has burst, flooding downstream towns and villages.
Poland has deployed the army to assist firefighters in the Klodzko region, which has been hardest hit by the floods. The Golkowice border crossing with the Czech Republic has been closed due to overflowing rivers.
Hungary is bracing for a significant rise in the Danube River, with forecasts predicting levels nearing the record highs seen in 2013. The city of Budapest has declared a state of preparedness, with Mayor Gergely Karacsony assuring residents that authorities are ready to tackle the potential flood.
As Storm Boris continues to unleash heavy rain and strong winds, authorities in the affected countries remain on high alert. Forecasters predict the storm will persist until at least Monday, adding to the already dire situation across Central and Eastern Europe.
First Piper 