Storm Boris causes catastrophe in Europe: Thousands evacuated
Heavy rainfall in Central and Eastern Europe has led to catastrophic flooding. Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated, and authorities have reported deaths and injuries.
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12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS
Due to heavy rainfall caused by Storm Boris, which is affecting Central and Eastern Europe, a firefighter responding to the floods in Austria has died. Five people have lost their lives in Romania, while one person drowned in Poland. Many people remain unaccounted for in the Czech Republic.
According to the latest reports, the death toll in the regions affected by the storm has risen to 10.
Vienna and its surrounding areas in Austria have been declared a disaster zone. Regional officials described the situation as 'unprecedented.'
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared a state of natural disaster.
FLOOD DISASTER TO CONTINUE UNTIL TUESDAY
The heaviest rainfall was recorded in the Czech Republic. It was reported that some regions experienced three months' worth of rain in just three days. Authorities shared that four people are still missing in the Czech Republic as evacuation efforts continue.
According to a BBC report, Marek Joch, a resident of the Czech town of Lipov, stated that the town is 'cut off from all sides' and that the 'next wave' of the flood has not yet arrived.
According to the report, Joch said the following:
'Now everyone is trying to take precautions as quickly as possible to prevent more major leaks from the river. Unfortunately, no one knows when the water will recede. We have to hold out until Tuesday; this is not the end.'
ROMANIA STRUGGLES TO RESCUE ITS CITIZENS
Four people have lost their lives in floods caused by heavy rain and storms in eastern Romania.
In a statement from the Romanian Department for Emergency Situations, it was reported that the bodies of 4 people were recovered due to floods affecting the Galati and Vaslui counties, and hundreds of people have been evacuated.
Pointing out that approximately 5,000 homes were damaged by the floods in Galati, the statement noted that 19 localities across the country were affected by the rain and storm, with many trees uprooted and traffic disruptions reported.
The statement added that helicopters have also been involved in search and rescue operations.
Romanian Minister of Environment Mircea Fechet, in a statement to the Associated Press (AP), said that the country is experiencing a rare disaster with 160 liters of rain falling per square meter, adding, 'Right now, the only thing we are doing is trying to save more people.'
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis also conveyed his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives, stating, 'We are once again facing the dramatic consequences of climate change, which is increasingly affecting Europe.'
It was shared that the heavy rainfall is also affecting other European countries, including the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary.