“Heaviest rain in decades” shakes Central and Eastern Europe, 4 dead in Romania

At least four people died in Romania's southeastern Galati region on Saturday as rivers burst their banks following heavy rains – described in a CNN report as the heaviest in decades – across central and eastern Europe. A slow-moving low pressure system called Storm Boris has brought a month's worth of rainfall to several of Europe's historic capitals, including Vienna in Austria, Bratislava in Slovakia and Prague in the Czech Republic, CNN reported.

Tens of thousands of households were left without power in Romania and the Czech Republic, according to Reuters, and more rain is forecast for the coming days. Heavy rain is also expected to continue in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany and parts of Austria, according to weather forecasts.

In Romania, military boats and planes have been deployed to move people to safer areas and Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said the current priority was to prevent loss of life, the BBC reported.

Strong winds and unusually heavy rain have hit parts of Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia since Thursday. Flood barriers have been raised in Prague and residents have been evacuated in parts of Poland, the report said.

In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk tried to reassure the public that the weather forecast was not that bad and stressed that the danger did not extend to the entire country, the BBC reported.

Significant flooding is also expected to continue in the Czech Republic, where the highest flood warning has been issued for 38 towns. Authorities have ordered mandatory evacuations in some areas. Rescue workers released images and videos of flooded streets in the southern municipality of Benesov nad Cernou, where two women who had not obeyed the evacuation order were rescued by boat, the BBC report added.

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Příkaz k evakuaci neuposlechly v Benešově nad Černou dvě ženy, které jsme museli nakonec zachraňovat na člunu. pic.twitter.com/R5ltBUVL4m

— HZS Jihočeského kraje (@HZS_jihocesky) 14 September 2024

In Germany, the eastern and southeastern states are reportedly preparing for flooding. Warnings have been issued for Saxony, according to CNN. Persistent, heavy rain is also expected in the German state of Bavaria.

In Austria, heavy rains have caused river levels to rise, forcing rescue teams to be sent to various parts of the country overnight. Several regions are expecting 10 to 20 cm of rain within a few days, the BBC reported. Last month, the country experienced its hottest August on record.