Severe flooding caused by Storm Boris is wreaking havoc across Central Europe, prompting local officials to call for evacuations in multiple areas. In the Polish city of Nysa, Mayor Kordian Kolbiarz has urged all 44,000 residents to leave, citing the imminent threat of a dam breach that could release dangerous floodwaters from a nearby lake.
The situation is part of a larger crisis that has so far claimed at least 16 lives, with casualties reported in Poland, Romania, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Many countries in the region are now scrambling to respond as floodwaters continue to rise.
Poland’s government, led by Prime Minister Donald Tusk, has announced a relief fund of one billion zloty (£197m) for flood victims and is seeking additional support from the European Union. Other countries in the region are also implementing emergency measures.
In Hungary, the capital, Budapest, is preparing for severe flooding as the Danube River continues to swell, with authorities shutting down roads and providing sandbags to residents. In Slovakia, the river’s overflow has already caused significant damage in the capital city of Bratislava.
Officials Urge Evacuations as Storm Boris Causes Severe Flooding Across Central Europe
The flooding has been particularly devastating in several countries, with record rainfall recorded in parts of the Czech Republic and Austria. In the Czech town of Jesenik, an extraordinary 473mm of rain has fallen since Thursday, causing severe damage to local infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Austria has deployed its armed forces to assist storm-hit areas, and Chancellor Karl Nehammer has pledged €300m (£253m) in recovery funds. Campaigning for Austria’s upcoming federal elections has largely been put on hold as the country focuses on disaster relief efforts.
In Romania, entire villages have been submerged, with mayors describing the situation as devastating. Thousands of people have been evacuated in Poland, including patients from a hospital in Nysa, as train traffic and road transport have been severely disrupted.
The mayor of another Polish town, Paczków, has also urged residents to evacuate due to the overflow of a local reservoir. While some areas in Poland are beginning to see water levels recede, the overall damage remains significant.
The record rainfall and flooding are being attributed to a combination of climate change and unusual weather patterns. Scientists have noted that warmer atmospheric temperatures are allowing storms like Boris to hold more moisture, resulting in more intense rainfall.
Storm Boris is expected to shift southward toward Italy, bringing heavy rain to the Emilia-Romagna region. While conditions in Central Europe are set to improve by mid-week, it may still take days for floodwaters to fully subside.
