Volunteers and emergency service workers worked overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday to reinforce the Polish city of Wrocław in the face of flooding risks due to elevated water levels, while Hungary opened a dam as the Prime Minister warned of an approaching “critical period.”
The most severe floods to hit Central Europe in the last two decades have caused significant damage from Romania to Poland, spreading mud and debris across settlements, destroying bridges, submerging vehicles, and leaving authorities and households with damages amounting to billions of dollars. “A lot has happened tonight,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk during a crisis management meeting in Wrocław. “We need urgent information… from those areas where the water level has risen.”
Towns south of Wrocław, such as Lewin Brzeski, have already been hit by flooding, forcing residents to venture out into inundated streets or seek safe places on the roofs of houses or buildings, reports Reuters.
In Hungary, authorities opened a dam in the northwest of the country to channel water from the Lajtai River into an emergency reservoir in an attempt to protect the city of Mosonmagyaróvár.
In the capital Budapest, the Danube River is expected to reach or exceed a level of 8.5 meters sometime during Friday or Saturday.
“Due to heavy rain and flooding, the situation is critical across Central Europe,” said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a post on the social platform X on Tuesday.
“According to the latest forecasts, the critical period for Hungary will begin tomorrow [Wednesday], so maximum preparations are being made for flood protection.”
Several European states faced deadly floods over the weekend, with Romania, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic reporting casualties and significant damages.
Two days after heavy rain flooded two counties in eastern Romania, many areas remain submerged, while people are struggling to assess the damages. /REL/
