Central Europe is grappling with severe flooding due to persistent heavy rainfall. Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic are among the hardest hit.
In Austria, several regions have declared a state of emergency. The Waldviertel area is preparing for a once-in-a-century flood.
The Stausee Ottenstein is at risk of overflowing, prompting evacuations and numerous emergency interventions by firefighters. Travel disruptions are widespread, with blocked roads and altered train services.
In Poland, rainfall has surpassed levels seen during the catastrophic 1997 flood. The southwest has been particularly affected, with record-breaking precipitation leading to evacuations and flooding.
Major cities like Krakow are distributing sandbags to residents to mitigate damage. The Czech Republic is also facing a critical situation.
Thousands may need evacuation in regions like Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc. Floodwaters have inundated streets and homes, and over 60,000 households have lost power.
Brno hospital has begun evacuating patients to safer locations. Germany is bracing for potential flooding, especially in Bavaria and Saxony.
Smaller streams have already overflowed, and higher water levels are expected in major rivers like the Elbe and Oder. The severe weather stems from a rare meteorological pattern involving a collision of warm Mediterranean air with polar cold fronts, exacerbated by the unusually warm Mediterranean waters.
This confluence has resulted in extraordinary rainfall and subsequent flooding across the region, posing significant challenges to residents and emergency services alike.
