Storm Boris is hitting Central and Eastern Europe hard, causing major flooding in Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania, where several people are dead or missing

Devastating weather
Between torrential rain and flash floods, storm Boris plunged several countries into chaos, causing at least 8 deaths on Sunday 15 September. The worst-hit areas include the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria and Romania.

A heavy human toll
In Romania, where four deaths had already been confirmed on Saturday, the death toll rose on Sunday to two. In Poland, one person has also drowned, while in Austria, a firefighter lost his life during rescue operations. Four people are still missing in the Czech Republic, raising fears that the death toll may rise in the coming hours.

Dramatic consequences
In addition to the loss of life, storm Boris caused major power cuts, interrupted transport networks and forced the mass evacuation of residents in several regions. The local authorities and emergency services are mobilised, but the weather conditions are making operations particularly complex.

In an attempt to slow the advance of the water, rescue teams have erected dykes along watercourses, notably near the river Biala in Poland. At the same time, some residents are taking steps themselves to protect their homes, piling sandbags in front of their doors.

However, these efforts have not been enough to stem the tide: the water has already submerged some dykes and damaged a bridge, flooding Glucholazy town centre. ‘We are sinking’, lamented the mayor, urging residents to evacuate areas at risk.

Tragedy in Austria
In Austria, a firefighter lost his life while responding to flooding in the north-east of the country. The governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, said: ‘For many residents, these will be the worst hours of their lives. She also requested the intervention of the federal army to reinforce the rescue effort.

Mass evacuations
Lower Austria, the region hardest hit by storm Boris, has been declared a natural disaster area. With its 1.72 million inhabitants, it is the country’s most populous region after Vienna. In Romania, in the village of Slobozia Conachi, residents were also evacuated due to massive flooding.

Transport disruption
The situation is critical in the north-east of the Czech Republic, where the town of Opava has been largely evacuated after the river overflowed its banks. Rail traffic between Poland and the Czech Republic has also been disrupted, according to the PAP agency.