Monday, September 16, 2024 Europe is grappling with severe flooding, fueled by continuous days of relentless rain, which is disrupting rail transportation, prompting large-scale evacuations, and causing extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. Devastation in Poland In southwest Poland, particularly in Glucholazy, the flooding has caused substantial damage. On Sunday, the town experienced the destruction of a temporary bridge and damage to another bridge still under construction as floodwaters surged through the area.
Additionally, a dam collapse in Stronie Slaskie has isolated the town, which has a population of approximately 6,000, from its surrounding regions. In response to the crisis, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has reportedly instructed the finance minister to prepare for emergency aid and has indicated that Poland will seek assistance from European sources. The Prime Minister expressed a commitment to supporting affected individuals, stating that no one would be left to manage the crisis alone.
The Polish defense minister has noted that five police and military helicopters are being utilized to carry out evacuations, highlighting the severity of the situation. Disruptions in Austria Austria has also faced significant disruptions due to the flooding. Rail traffic on a crucial section between Vienna and Salzburg has been suspended due to flood risks, and subway services on at least three lines in Vienna have been affected.
The Weststrecke, a key high-speed rail route linking Germany and eastern Europe, will see halted train services between Amstetten and St. Valentin. This route handles approximately one-third of all Austrian rail traffic, making the disruption particularly impactful.
The Czech Republic has experienced similar issues, with around 40 train lines closed by Sunday. Passenger rail services between the Czech Republic and Poland have been suspended until further notice, according to the Polish railway operator PKP Intercity. Broader Regional Impact The torrential rains have caused flooding across extensive areas of central and eastern Europe.
In Romania, flash floods have resulted in four fatalities, while Poland and Austria have reported one death each, with a firefighter among the casualties in Austria. Additionally, Romanian authorities have reported two people missing for two days. The low-pressure system over the Balkan Peninsula has brought additional heavy precipitation, particularly affecting northern, central, and eastern Austria.
Lower Austria, the country’s second-most populous province after Vienna, has declared a state of emergency and advised residents to delay non-essential travel. Approximately 1,100 homes have been evacuated so far. Officials anticipate that the Ottensteiner Reservoir in Austria, which has already had half its water volume drained in preparation for the rains, will exceed its capacity.
This could result in further increases in water levels along the Kamp River, a tributary of the Danube. The Austrian forecasting service GeoSphere has predicted that some regions could experience rainfall amounts two to four times higher than the average for September. Snowfall and Its Effects Following significant snowfall in the mountains on Friday and Saturday, the snow line in Austria is expected to rise gradually to about 1,200 to 1,600 meters above sea level over Sunday.
This change may further impact water levels and exacerbate flooding conditions. Ongoing Response Efforts In response to the worsening situation, Polish and Czech authorities have mobilized tens of thousands of first responders. The flooding has led to the closure of at least two border crossings between Poland and the Czech Republic, affecting local roads on the Czech side.
In the Czech Republic, the situation has deteriorated, with rivers flooding numerous towns and villages, particularly in the northeastern part of the country. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has informed the public that river levels have yet to peak in some areas and that challenging conditions are expected to persist. More than 10,000 residents in the Czech town of Opava near the Polish border have been evacuated, and thousands more have been displaced in surrounding regions.
Rescue services are using army helicopters to assist individuals trapped in inundated homes, and over 250,000 households were reported to be without electricity on Sunday morning..
