Death toll rises from floods in central Europe

The death toll from floods that hit central Europe over the weekend has risen, with more victims reported in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria.

In the Czech Republic, a person drowned in a waterway near the town of Bruntal in the north-east of the country, while seven people are still missing.

Four people are known to have died in Poland, although an interior ministry spokesman said the exact cause of death had not yet been determined in at least one case.

In Austria, two people aged 70 and 80 died in the north-east of the country. Austrian media reported that one of them, a resident of the town of Hubersdorf, was apparently trying to pump water out of his apartment when he drowned.

Eight deaths were recorded over the weekend in Poland, Romania and Austria, where a firefighter died during a flood rescue.

Although some parts of Central Europe are stable, others are bracing for more turmoil and risk.

In Slovakia, the Danube River has overflowed and caused flooding in the Old Town area of ​​the capital Bratislava, with local media reporting that water levels have exceeded 9 metres (30 feet) and are expected to rise further.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Tuesday he had postponed all international commitments “due to severe weather conditions and ongoing flooding in Hungary.”

The Czech Republic has recorded its highest rainfall ever. The northeastern town of Jeseník has seen 473 millimeters (19 inches) of rain since Thursday morning — five times the average monthly rainfall.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said the armed forces were deployed to help areas affected by the storm. In St. Pölten, more rain fell in four days than the wettest autumn on record in 1950.

Villages and towns in eastern Romania have been flooded. Emil Dragomir, mayor of Slobozia Kunacci, told media the floods had had a devastating effect.

“If you were here, you would cry right away, because people are desperate, their whole life’s work is gone, and there are people who have nothing left but the clothes on their backs,” he said.

Thousands of people in Poland, including staff and patients from a hospital in the city of Nysa, have been evacuated. Roads have been severely disrupted and trains have been halted in many parts of the country.

The mayor of Baczko in southwestern Poland on Monday morning urged residents to evacuate their homes after a nearby reservoir began overflowing, putting the town at risk.

In other parts of Poland, water levels are now starting to fall, according to local officials.

Kłodzko Mayor Michal Peszko told Polish media that the waters had receded and that indications were that the worst was now over.

Video footage from Monday morning showed that downtown streets that were flooded on Sunday were now clear of water, although the footage also revealed the extent of the damage to buildings.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Sunday that Ukraine had offered to send 100 emergency personnel and special equipment to help in the wake of the floods, adding that the offer was “very touching.”

Further rain is expected throughout Monday and Tuesday in Austria, the Czech Republic and southeastern Germany, where another 100 mm (4 inches) is expected to fall.

Although it may take several days for the flood waters to subside, the weather will improve in central Europe from mid-week with drier conditions.

Storm Boris is expected to move south into Italy where it will strengthen again and bring heavy rain. The Emilia Romagna region is expected to be the worst affected with 100-150mm of rain.

This may cause some flooding in the area.