Floods claim more lives as torrential rain pounds central Europe

The death toll from severe flooding in central Europe rose to eight on Sunday, as thousands were evacuated from their homes in the Czech Republic due to days of heavy rain that caused rivers to overflow in several areas. A low-pressure system, named Boris, brought downpours from Austria to Romania, leading to some of the worst flooding in almost 30 years in parts of the Czech Republic and Poland.

Forecasts predict more rain and strong winds until at least Monday, though conditions eased somewhat in Romania on Sunday after the country experienced the worst flooding a day earlier. Over the weekend, thousands of homes were damaged, bridges were swept away, and power outages affected at least 250,000 households, primarily in the Czech Republic.

In southwestern Poland, one person drowned on Sunday, and a firefighter participating in rescue efforts was killed in Austria. Two more fatalities occurred in Romania, adding to the four deaths caused by the floods there on Saturday. In Lower Austria, which surrounds Vienna, local authorities declared the area a disaster zone after the firefighter’s death and warned people to avoid non-essential travel.

Poland also suffered significant damage. A bridge collapsed in the historic town of Glucholazy near the Czech border, leading to evacuations. Another bridge in Stronie Slaskie collapsed after a dam burst. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced plans to declare a state of disaster and seek aid from the European Union.

In the Czech Republic, authorities were searching for three people who went missing after their car fell into the Staric River near the village of Lipova-lazne, where rainfall has reached about 500 mm since Wednesday. Footage showed floodwaters surging through the area, damaging homes and carrying debris. Residents in affected areas expressed concerns over worsening conditions, with some saying their homes were submerged and emergency services were struggling to provide aid.

Elsewhere, Hungary’s capital Budapest prepared for the Danube River to rise to over 8.5 meters later in the week, nearing a record height. As the rain slowed in Romania, workers focused on restoring power to over 11,000 homes and beginning cleanup efforts. Many residents, like Victoria Salceanu from the village of Slobozia Conachi, were left surveying the damage, saying that their homes and belongings were completely destroyed.