Central and Eastern Europe is grappling with a severe flooding crisis, fueled by days of relentless rain. The devastating impact of the floods has disrupted rail transportation, prompted large-scale evacuations, and caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure.
Devastation in Poland
The southwestern region of Poland, particularly the town of Glucholazy, has been hit hard by the flooding. Floodwaters have surged through the area, causing the destruction of a temporary bridge and damaging another under construction. A dam collapse in Stronie Slaskie has isolated the town, home to approximately 6,000 residents, from its surrounding regions. Responding to the crisis, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has instructed the finance minister to prepare emergency aid and has indicated that Poland will seek assistance from European sources. The Prime Minister assured the affected population that no one would be left to face the crisis alone. To address the severity of the situation, five police and military helicopters are being used for evacuations.
Disruptions in Austria
Austria has also faced significant disruptions due to the flooding. Rail traffic on a crucial section between Vienna and Salzburg has been suspended due to flood risks, impacting subway services on at least three lines in Vienna. The Weststrecke, a key high-speed rail route linking Germany and eastern Europe, has seen halted train services between Amstetten and St. Valentin. This route, handling approximately one-third of all Austrian rail traffic, makes the disruption particularly impactful. The Czech Republic has experienced similar issues, with around 40 train lines closed by Sunday. Passenger rail services between the Czech Republic and Poland have been suspended until further notice, according to the Polish railway operator PKP Intercity.
A Wider Regional Impact
The torrential rains have caused flooding across extensive areas of central and eastern Europe. In Romania, flash floods have tragically resulted in four fatalities. Poland and Austria have each reported one death, including a firefighter in Austria. Additionally, Romanian authorities have reported two individuals missing for two days. The low-pressure system over the Balkan Peninsula has brought additional heavy precipitation, particularly affecting northern, central, and eastern Austria. Lower Austria, the country’s second-most populous province after Vienna, has declared a state of emergency and advised residents to delay non-essential travel. Approximately 1,100 homes have been evacuated so far. Officials anticipate that the Ottensteiner Reservoir in Austria, which has already had half its water volume drained in preparation for the rains, will exceed its capacity. This could lead to further increases in water levels along the Kamp River, a tributary of the Danube. The Austrian forecasting service GeoSphere has predicted that some regions could experience rainfall amounts two to four times higher than the average for September.
Snowfall and Its Effects
Following significant snowfall in the mountains on Friday and Saturday, the snow line in Austria is expected to rise gradually to about 1,200 to 1,600 meters above sea level over Sunday. This change may further impact water levels and exacerbate flooding conditions.
Ongoing Response Efforts
Responding to the worsening situation, Polish and Czech authorities have mobilized tens of thousands of first responders. The flooding has led to the closure of at least two border crossings between Poland and the Czech Republic, affecting local roads on the Czech side. In the Czech Republic, the situation has deteriorated, with rivers flooding numerous towns and villages, particularly in the northeastern part of the country. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has informed the public that river levels have yet to peak in some areas and that challenging conditions are expected to persist. More than 10,000 residents in the Czech town of Opava near the Polish border have been evacuated, and thousands more have been displaced in surrounding regions. Rescue services are using army helicopters to assist individuals trapped in inundated homes, and over 250,000 households were reported to be without electricity on Sunday morning.
