In a dramatic and urgent turn of events, the mayor of Nysa, a Polish town, has called on all 44,000 residents to evacuate as relentless flooding continues to wreak havoc across central Europe. Mayor Kordian Kolbiarz has urged everyone to move to higher ground immediately, citing the grave risk of an embankment potentially collapsing and unleashing a deluge of water from a nearby lake into the town.
The devastating floods, which struck over the weekend, have claimed at least 16 lives as of Monday, with seven confirmed fatalities in Romania alone. The deadly waters have also left their mark in Austria, the Czech Republic, and Poland. In response, Budapest is preparing for further inundation, with road closures near the Danube River expected later this week due to rising water levels.
Kolbiarz's message to residents was stark: “Please evacuate your belongings, yourselves, your loved ones. It’s crucial to get to higher ground immediately, as the impending wave could be several meters high. This could lead to the entire town being submerged.” The mayor’s call underscores the urgency of the situation, as the town faces the threat of complete flooding.
In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a significant financial response to the disaster, allocating one billion zloty (approximately £197 million) for flood relief efforts. Poland is also seeking EU funds to bolster its recovery efforts and has declared a state of natural disaster in response to the catastrophic flooding.
While some areas have seen conditions stabilize, others are still on edge, with more disruptions anticipated. The floods, triggered by Storm Boris, have caused severe damage across the region. In Slovakia, the Danube River overflowed, inundating the Old Town area of Bratislava. Water levels in the capital exceeded 30 feet and are expected to rise further.
Hungary is bracing itself for additional flooding in the coming days, with warnings in effect along 310 miles of the Danube River. The river's water level is rising by about one meter every 24 hours, prompting Budapest's mayor to distribute a million sandbags to residents in an effort to stave off the rising waters. Starting Monday evening, tram lines will be suspended, roads along the river will be closed, and trains between Budapest and Vienna have been canceled.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that he had postponed all international obligations due to the severe weather conditions and ongoing floods in Hungary.
The Czech Republic has been particularly hard-hit, with the highest rainfall totals recorded in Jesenik, where 19 inches of rain have fallen since Thursday morning—five times the average monthly rainfall for the region. The Czech fire service has been busy delivering bottled water to isolated villages, advising residents to avoid using tap or well water due to contamination.
Austria has not escaped the deluge either. In St Polten, more rain has fallen in just four days than during the wettest autumn on record in 1950. Chancellor Karl Nehammer has mobilized the armed forces to assist with the crisis, and Austria's Climate Ministry has pledged €300 million (approximately £253 million) in recovery funds. Most political parties have paused their campaigns for the upcoming federal elections, set for September 29, in solidarity with the flood-affected regions.
In eastern Romania, entire villages have been submerged. Emil Dragomir, the mayor of Slobozia Conachi, described the devastation, saying, "If you were here, you would cry instantly, because people are desperate, their whole lives' work is gone. Some are left with nothing but the clothes on their backs."
Poland has witnessed a large-scale evacuation effort, including the relocation of hospital patients and staff from Nysa. Transportation networks have been severely disrupted, with train services suspended in many areas. On Monday morning, the mayor of Paczków, a town in southwestern Poland, also issued an evacuation order after a nearby reservoir began overflowing, threatening the town's safety.
Despite the ongoing turmoil, some regions in Poland are seeing water levels recede. Klodzko’s mayor, Michal Piszko, reported that the worst might be over, with city center streets, previously inundated, now cleared of water, though the damage to buildings remains significant.
Looking ahead, Storm Boris is expected to move southward into Italy, where it will reintensify and bring heavy rainfall, particularly affecting the Emilia-Romagna region with anticipated precipitation of 100-150mm.
The unprecedented rainfall across central Europe is attributed to a convergence of factors, including climate change. The "perfect storm" scenario has seen frigid Arctic air colliding with warm Mediterranean air, compounded by a stagnant atmospheric pressure pattern that kept Storm Boris in place for an extended period. Scientists warn that a warmer atmosphere can hold more moisture, leading to more intense rainfall, while warmer oceans increase evaporation, fueling storm systems. For every 1°C rise in global temperatures, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture, further intensifying these extreme weather events.
As central Europe continues to grapple with the aftermath of Storm Boris, the region remains on high alert, with ongoing recovery efforts and preparations for the storm's next phase.
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