Days of relentless rain have unleashed a wave of severe flooding across central and eastern Europe, causing widespread disruption, forcing evacuations, and leaving a trail of damage in its wake. The relentless downpour has wreaked havoc on infrastructure, homes, and transportation networks, leaving communities grappling with the aftermath.
On Sunday, southwest Poland bore the brunt of the devastation, where in Glucholazy, a temporary bridge was swept away by the surging floodwaters. Another bridge under construction suffered severe damage, highlighting the destructive force of the raging waters. In Stronie Slaskie, a dam failure compounded the crisis, isolating the town’s 6,000 residents from neighboring areas.
Austria also grappled with the catastrophic flooding, prompting the suspension of rail traffic on a major line connecting Vienna and Salzburg. Several subway services in Vienna were also disrupted. Trains were halted between Amstetten and St. Valentin on the high-speed Weststrecke line, a vital artery for Austrian rail traffic, connecting Germany with eastern Europe.
The Czech Republic wasn’t spared either, with extensive rail closures, affecting approximately 40 lines by Sunday. Passenger services between Poland and the Czech Republic were suspended indefinitely, according to Poland’s PKP Intercity.
The devastating downpours have triggered flash floods across Romania, Poland, and Austria, claiming lives in each country, including a firefighter in Austria. Romania reported two individuals missing, as confirmed by Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu.
The low-pressure system over the Balkan region continued its relentless assault, dumping heavy rainfall on Sunday, particularly in Austria’s northern and central regions. Lower Austria, the country’s most populous state, declared a state of emergency, urging residents to avoid non-essential travel. By the weekend, approximately 1,100 homes had already been evacuated.
Authorities are closely monitoring the Ottensteiner Reservoir in Austria, which is expected to overflow despite efforts to release water ahead of the anticipated rains. The swelling Kamp River, a tributary of the Danube, is projected to rise further. West of Vienna, a staggering 353.6 millimeters of rain was recorded. Snowfall in Austria’s mountains on Friday and Saturday exacerbated the crisis, although the snowline is expected to rise later on Sunday.
Emergency responders in Poland and the Czech Republic have been mobilized in large numbers, closing at least two border crossings due to flooded roads on the Czech side. Conditions in the Czech Republic worsened throughout Sunday, with rivers overflowing, inundating towns and villages in the northeast. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala issued a stark warning, highlighting that rivers had yet to crest and challenging conditions would persist into Monday.
In the Czech town of Opava, near the Polish border, authorities initiated the evacuation of over 10,000 residents, with thousands more displaced from surrounding regions. Rescue teams deployed military helicopters to evacuate individuals stranded in flooded homes. By Sunday morning, over 250,000 homes were left without power.
The unrelenting rain and subsequent flooding have brought life in central and eastern Europe to a standstill, demanding a coordinated and robust response from authorities as communities brace for the ongoing challenges.
