Torrential rains across Central Europe have unleashed devastating floods, forcing massive evacuations in the hardest-hit areas of the Czech Republic. Record levels of rainfall have pushed rivers to extreme levels, and meteorologists warn that the situation could worsen, with more heavy rain expected overnight.
Authorities declared the highest flood warnings in nearly 90 locations, with the northeastern regions, particularly the Jeseniky Mountains near the Polish border, experiencing the most significant rainfall. The city of Opava, where up to 10,000 residents have been evacuated, was hit hard by the surging Opava River. Boats have been deployed to transport people to safety as the river flooded residential neighbourhoods.
“There’s no reason to wait,” Mayor Tomáš Navrátil told Czech public radio. He warned that the situation is worse than the 1997 floods, previously considered the “flood of the century.” Prime Minister Petr Fiala echoed the concern, stating that “the worst is not behind us yet” and pledging that his government would assess the damages on Monday.
Evacuations are also underway in other towns, including Krnov and Cesky Tesin, as well as in the city of Ostrava, where the Oder River has risen to dangerous levels. Ostrava, the Czech Republic’s third-largest city, is facing major transportation disruptions, with most train services halted.
In the Jeseniky Mountains, the town of Jesenik and surrounding villages have been cut off by floodwaters, turning roads into rivers. The Czech military dispatched helicopters to assist with evacuations as several homes and infrastructure, including bridges, were destroyed.
Tragically, four people have been reported missing after being swept away by the floodwaters, and 260,000 households are without power. In Austria, a firefighter died while attempting to pump out a flooded basement in Tulln, prompting the state of Lower Austria to be declared a disaster zone. Over 1,100 homes have been evacuated in that region alone.
The situation is similarly dire across Central Europe, with record flooding affecting Romania, Austria, Poland, Germany, Slovakia, and Hungary. In Poland, the town of Klodzko was heavily impacted, and one person is presumed dead in the region. Rising waters have flooded streets and houses in the town of Glucholazy, where Mayor Paweł Szymkowicz pleaded with residents to evacuate to higher ground.
The unprecedented rainfall is attributed to a low-pressure system moving from northern Italy, which has dumped heavy rain across the region. This extreme weather follows a hot start to September, part of what scientists have documented as Earth’s hottest summer, breaking the previous record set just a year ago.
