Torrential rain and subsequent flooding in central and eastern Europe have led to the tragic deaths of at least 15 individuals. Record breaking water levels were reported in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania following heavy rain on Monday, leading to an expected flood peak on Tuesday. An increase in evacuations took place across Europe due to a growing number of missing persons and a potential sandbag shortage. Reports surfaced of three-meter-high water walls inundating areas.
In the Czech Republic, Ostrava, its third-largest city with nearly 300,000 residents, seemed to bear the brunt of the flooding with local media describing water “engulfing the city”. Peter Hladik, the Czech Environment Minister, commented on dam breaches across various sectors and declared it a once-a-century flood.
Germany’s Dresden and the Czech city of Ústí nad Labem are anticipating near-record water levels up to 7.65 meters by early Wednesday as the Elbe River continues to rise. Similar high alerts are active in the Polish cities of Opole and Wroclaw, which were drastically affected by the 1997 Oder River flooding.
In the wake of this crisis, Poland’s government has deemed it a natural disaster in the western and south-western flood-stricken areas. This declaration employs the use of one billion zloty (€230 million) as emergency aid, thus centralizing the rescue efforts and implementing check on trade and public movement. Climate Minister Paulina Henning-Kloska asserts that this will hasten the dispensation of aid for flood victims.
Polish officials have urged the European Union for financial assistance and also made a nationwide appeal for donations of food and other essentials for the victims. Reports emerged of the tragic drowning of acclaimed 71-year-old surgeon, Krzysztof Kaminski, in the Neisse River during floods, who had been reported missing after not returning from duty.
Late Sunday saw an urgent evacuation of a hospital in Nysa, a city situated close to the Czech border. 40km to the west, fault lines were identified in the dam of the local reservoir in Paczkow, leading to the town mayor ordering the swift evacuation of 8,000 inhabitants.
Losses have been reported in Romania, with seven people confirmed dead including two elderly women aged 86 and 96, most victims being occupants of remote rural locations.
Emergency situations have been announced in two regions bordering Poland by Prague, with communities being immersed in flood water.
The Czech army has assigned helicopters and inflatable rafts to rescue residents trapped in their homes. As the waters recede on higher ground, the destruction left behind comprises of ruined homes, destroyed road connections and desolate vehicles mired in mud.
Continuous flooding has disrupted local and international rail routes in and out of Vienna, and the city’s Wien river has escalated to water levels not witnessed in a century.
On the nearby Danube, a Swiss passenger ship carrying 100 travellers and 40 crew, remains moored as it awaits the floodwaters in Vienna to recede.
Austria has pledged an immediate €300 million disaster relief fund for those affected by the floods, mainly in and around the capital’s Lower Austria region.
In total, 200 roads have been closed and 1,800 buildings cleared with educational institutions closing for the state. After a brief respite on Monday, renewed rainfall in the afternoon intensified pressure on several dams in the region, inclusive of one interconnected to a principal regional power facility.
A late surprise in the September 29th parliamentary election may be caused by the flood disaster according to Austrian speculation.
Recent surveys illustrate the far-right opposition Freedom Party (FPÖ) leading with approximately 27 percent, leaving the incumbent People’s Party (ÖVP) of chancellor Karl Nehammer trailing with less than three points.
“In situations like this, those in charge can make a much better impression as crisis managers,” as Thomas Hofer, a prominent Austrian political analyst, pointed out. FPÖ leader Herbert Kickl, hitherto seen as the candidate to overcome, had “inherent difficulties as an opposition in the flood crisis”.