Central Europe is currently facing a severe flooding crisis, with at least 18 fatalities reported across four countries since the weekend of September 14-15, 2024. The disaster has prompted large-scale evacuations and caused significant damage to infrastructure in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria.
In Poland, the town of Nysa, located at the confluence of the Nysa Kłodzka and Biała Głuchołaska rivers, has become a focal point of flood mitigation efforts. Volunteers and rescue workers have been working tirelessly to reinforce the town's broken embankment with sandbags. The Polish government has declared a state of disaster in the affected areas and allocated 1 billion zlotys (approximately $260.38 million) for flood relief.
The historic city of Wrocław, the fourth-largest in Poland, is bracing for peak water levels along the Odra River, which forms part of the border between Poland and Germany. Authorities have filled 75% of a massive reservoir near the Czech border to prevent a recurrence of the devastating 1997 floods that severely impacted the city.
In the Czech Republic, Prime Minister Petr Fiala reported that over 13,000 people have been evacuated. The northeastern city of Ostrava, the third-largest in the country and capital of the Moravian-Silesian Region, has experienced flooding in its industrial area, affecting major facilities such as the BorsodChem chemical plant and the OKK Koksovny coking plant.
Hungary and Slovakia are also grappling with the rising waters of the Danube, Europe's second-longest river that flows through 10 countries. In Budapest, authorities have closed Margaret Island, a 2.5 km long recreational area in the middle of the Danube, and are preparing for water levels to approach record highs. The historic towns of Visegrad, known for its medieval citadel, and Szentendre, famous for its museums and galleries, have implemented mobile dams as precautionary measures.
The death toll from the floods stands at seven in Romania, four each in Poland and Austria, and three in the Czech Republic. Tens of thousands of households in the Czech Republic and Poland remain without power.
As the region continues to battle this natural disaster, it's worth noting that central Europe has a history of significant flooding events. Hungary, for instance, experienced major Danube floods in 2002, 2006, and 2013. The current crisis underscores the ongoing challenges posed by extreme weather events and the importance of robust flood management strategies in the region.
"The Nysa embankment has been sealed, with military helicopters joining the operation to drop sandbags."
As rescue and prevention efforts continue, the affected countries are mobilizing resources to mitigate the impact of this devastating flood. The coming days will be crucial in determining the full extent of the damage and the long-term implications for the region's infrastructure and communities.