Brace yourselves! Central Europe is facing intense floods after days of heavy rainfall 🌧️, causing a rising death toll and forcing mass evacuations across several countries.
What's happening?
Since Thursday, a low-pressure system from northern Italy has unleashed record rainfall, hitting Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania the hardest. Slovakia and Hungary could be next in line ⚠️.
The human impact ❤️🩹
- Lives lost: Six in Romania, one each in Austria and Poland.
- Missing persons: Four people in the Czech Republic swept away by floodwaters are still unaccounted for.
Czech Republic under water 🇨🇿
Authorities have declared the highest flood warnings at around 100 places! The northeastern regions, including the Jeseniky mountains near the Polish border, are the worst hit.
In Opava, up to 10,000 residents were told to evacuate. Mayor Tomas Navratil urged, \"There's no reason to wait.\" Rescue teams used boats to transport people to safety 🚤.
\"It's worse than the 'flood of the century' in 1997,\" Navratil remarked.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala emphasized, \"We have to focus on saving lives,\" warning that the worst isn't over yet 🌊.
Austria declares disaster zone 🇦🇹
Lower Austria is now a disaster zone after a firefighter tragically died while on duty. Over 10,000 relief workers have evacuated 1,100 houses so far.
Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated, \"The situation continues to worsen,\" as soldiers are deployed to assist with the relief efforts.
Poland's dramatic scenes 🇵🇱
Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the situation as \"dramatic\" near Klodzko. Helicopters rescued people from rooftops 🚁, and some areas are completely cut off.
In Glucholazy, the mayor exclaimed, \"We are drowning,\" urging residents to seek higher ground.
Why it matters 🌍
This extreme weather comes after an unusually hot September. Scientists note that a hotter atmosphere, driven by human-caused climate change, can lead to more intense rainfall 🌡️.
Stay safe! If you're in the affected areas or have loved ones there, keep updated with local news and follow evacuation orders.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these devastating floods. 💙
Reference(s):
Death toll rises as rains, floods force evacuations in Central Europe
cgtn.com
