At least four people lost their lives and thousands of homes sustained significant damage as a result of the extreme floods that occurred in eastern Romania on Saturday. After many days of intense rain, the floodwaters rose and advisories were sent throughout central and eastern Europe.
According to Romanian officials, eight counties have been seriously affected by the water. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu visited the impacted districts in Galati County, where flooding destroyed almost 5,000 homes, left 25,000 people without power, and took four lives.
Television video from the area devastated by the disaster showed streets covered with silt, filthy water, and debris. Residents were being actively evacuated to safety by rescuers. Ciolacu underlined that saving lives was the top priority and that all the tools needed for an immediate reaction were available.
The flooding crisis affected neighboring nations in addition to Romania. 51,000 homes in the Czech Republic lost power as a result of excessive rain. The country's northeastern and northern regions were largely affected by the deluge.
Forecasters in the Czech Republic warned that some regions might experience rainfall amounts exceeding a third of their annual average by Sunday. Environment Minister Petr Hladik advised residents in the worst-hit areas to prepare for potential evacuations.
In Visnova, a village located 140 kilometers north of Prague, some homes remained undamaged due to their elevated positions, but many others were severely affected. Local resident Roman Christof expressed sympathy for those whose properties were damaged.
In anticipation of flooding, Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic and home to the famous Charles Bridge across the Vltava River, erected flood barriers. Since the disastrous floods of 2002, the city has made significant investments in flood prevention measures.
The fear of flooding forced the closure of Prague Zoo, while Czech Railways reported problems on multiple routes. As a precaution, a hospital in Brno, the second-biggest city in the nation, evacuated its patients.
The ancient Polish town of Glucholazy, which is close to the Czech border, had its own problems with water. Residents were evacuated while firefighters worked to protect the area with sandbags. Tomasz Siemoniak, the interior minister for Poland, emphasized the dire circumstances.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared that Poland was facing a critical night, with forecasts indicating that very heavy rainfall would continue in areas near the Czech border. Full mobilization of resources was deemed necessary.
Slovakia's officials warned of potential flooding threats in Bratislava due to the swollen Danube River. Hungary, too, was bracing for high water levels, with the Danube approaching record highs.
In Austria, emergency services collaborated with local authorities to prepare for possible evacuations. Chancellor Karl Nehammer noted that all federal states were experiencing severe impacts, with the situation worsening, particularly in Lower Austria.
For locals and emergency services in the impacted areas, the upcoming days are anticipated to continue being difficult. The situation is still developing, and in order to prevent more harm and maintain public safety, officials are continuously monitoring the weather and flood conditions.
