Volunteers and emergency workers in Wroclaw, Poland, raced to secure riverbanks as Storm Boris caused widespread flooding across Central Europe, resulting in at least 21 deaths. The deluge affected Romania, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic, leaving devastation in its wake. Tens of thousands of households were without power or freshwater in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Residents in Wroclaw worked together to protect the city from rising waters, with volunteers helping emergency services with sandbags and moving valuable items to higher ground. In nearby Lewin Brzeski, residents faced waist-high waters and had to be rescued by emergency services. The Polish government announced plans to redirect funds for reconstruction and build new embankments and reservoirs to prevent future flooding.
In the Czech Republic, Governor Josef Belica reported 15,000 evacuations in the Moravia-Silesia region, with aid being delivered to areas cut off by floodwaters. In Hungary, mobile dams were put in place to prevent flooding from the Danube, while Budapest prepared for record water levels. In Slovakia, damage from floods was estimated at 20 million euros.
Experts warned that climate change plays a role in the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like these floods. Studies are underway to determine the link between climate change and these disasters, with the floods being described as “historic” but a reminder that climate change continues to pose a threat.
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