Another night of torrential rains has pounded Central Europe, triggering massive evacuations in the hardest-hit areas of the Czech Republic. Floodwaters have reached extreme levels, especially in the northeastern regions, where meteorologists warn that the situation could worsen as rivers continue to rise. The flood wave is moving through the country, and more heavy rains are expected overnight.
Highest flood warnings in effect
Authorities have declared the highest flood warnings in almost 90 locations across the Czech Republic. Particularly affected areas include the Jeseniky Mountains near the Polish border, which have recorded the most significant rainfall in recent days.
In the city of Opava, as many as 10,000 residents out of a population of 56,000 have been ordered to evacuate to higher ground. Rescuers deployed boats to ferry residents to safety from neighbourhoods overwhelmed by the surging Opava River.
“There’s no reason to wait,” said Mayor Tomáš Navrátil, warning that the situation was worse than the catastrophic floods of 1997, known as the “flood of the century.”
“We have to focus on saving lives,” emphasised Prime Minister Petr Fiala, who indicated the government would assess the damage on Monday.
Four missing and villages isolated
Thousands more were evacuated in the towns of Krnov and Cesky Tesin as the Oder River, which flows into Poland, approached critical levels in the cities of Ostrava and Bohumin.
In the Jeseniky mountains, villages like Jesenik have been cut off by floodwaters, turning roads into rivers. The military has deployed helicopters to assist with evacuations. Four people remain missing after being swept away by the waters, according to police reports.
Power outages have affected 260,000 households across the country, and many roads, including the D1 highway, remain impassable.
Firefighter dies, lower Austria declares disaster zone
A firefighter tragically lost his life in Lower Austria after slipping while working in a flooded basement in the town of Tulln. The region has been declared a disaster zone, and the situation is particularly tense at the Ottenstein reservoir, which is expected to reach its maximum capacity soon.
Romania reports another flooding victim
In Romania, authorities reported another fatality in the flood-stricken eastern county of Galati, adding to the four lives lost in the region the previous day due to unprecedented rainfall.
Poland faces dramatic flooding
Poland is also facing severe flooding, with Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirming the presumed death of one person in the southwest. Tusk described the situation as “dramatic,” especially in the town of Klodzko, which has 25,000 residents and is located in a valley in the Sudetes Mountains near the Czech border.
In Glucholazy, waters breached river embankments, flooding streets and homes. Mayor Paweł Szymkowicz made a public appeal for residents to evacuate to higher ground, stating, “we are drowning.”
Energy supplies and communications have been disrupted in several flooded areas and authorities may resort to the satellite-based Starlink service for emergency communication.
Climate change fuels intense rainfall across the region
Several Central European nations, including Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary, have been severely impacted by the flooding. The weather event, caused by a low-pressure system from northern Italy, follows a record-breaking hot summer. Scientists link the intensity of the rainfall to a hotter atmosphere, driven by human-caused climate change, which increases the likelihood of extreme weather events like these floods.