15:36 Additional Casualties Due to Flooding Events
15:21 Poland declares disaster situation in certain areas Poland has declared a disaster situation in regions affected by heavy floods. The government in Warsaw has declared this in an emergency meeting, passing a decree to that effect. The disaster situation will be in effect for 30 days in parts of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Opole voivodeships. This allows authorities to issue orders more easily, as civil liberties and rights are temporarily restricted. For example, authorities can more easily order evacuations of certain areas or facilities, as well as prohibit citizens from being in certain locations.
14:59 "More frequent and intense": Expert explains reasons behind extreme rainfall Flooded landscapes and roads, breached dikes: one of the worst floods in decades is causing tragic scenes in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania. But why are extreme rainfall events and flood risks becoming more frequent? ntv asks flood expert Georg Johann.
14:34 Austrian Federal Railways issue travel warning until Thursday Due to severe weather events affecting large parts of Austria, Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) have extended the urgent travel warning in effect since September 13, 2024, until Thursday, September 19, 2024. ÖBB strongly advise all passengers to postpone any non-essential travel within this period to another time. Already booked tickets remain valid until September 22.
14:19 Death toll from Europe's flooding rises The death toll from flooding in parts of Austria, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic has risen to at least 13. Austrian police report three more deaths. In the Czech Republic, one person drowned in the Krasovka river in the eastern region of Moravia-Silesia, according to police president Martin Vondrasek in public broadcasting. So far, ten deaths had been reported in the four countries. Czech authorities also report at least nine missing persons.
14:04 Federal government offers support to flood-hit Europeans The federal government expresses its support for people affected by flooding in several European countries. "The people in our neighboring countries, our partners in Europe, and also the people here should know: We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to help," says deputy government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin. The devastation in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania is often catastrophic. Hoffmann says: "We see these images with horror and are shocked by the news of deaths and missing persons. In the name of the federal government, we extend our condolences and sympathy to all those affected."
13:43 Orban postpones international engagements Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has postponed all his international engagements due to the flooding in his country. "Due to the extreme weather conditions and ongoing floods in Hungary, I have postponed all my international engagements," Orban writes on the online service X. He does not provide further details. Orban was scheduled to speak in a debate on the program of the six-month Hungarian EU Council presidency at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The right-wing politician is often confronted with harsh criticism from the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.
13:12 Ostrava submerged: Dike breaches in Czech Republic's third-largest city Evacuations have been expanded in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, due to acute flooding danger. "There have been obvious dike breaches in several districts," says Environment Minister Petr Hladik after an emergency meeting. Residents were partially rescued by inflatable boats. According to estimates, around 100 cubic meters of water per second are flowing through the breaches. Attempts are being made to fill the gaps with stones. Ostrava, with around 285,000 inhabitants, is located at the confluence of several rivers, including the Oder and the Opava. The mining and industrial city is about 280 kilometers east of Prague. Train traffic to Ostrava and further towards Poland remains completely disrupted. A power plant had to be shut down. In nearby Bohumin, the power and mobile phone networks went down due to flooding. The drinking water supply collapsed in many places.
12:33 Rain record: 450 liters of rain per square meter in Czech town The rainfall from depression "Anett" is immense: Since Friday, 450 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Serec in the Czech Republic, near the border with Poland. That's the highest rainfall of recent days, explains ntv.de weather expert Oliver Scheel. In Germany, Ruhpolding/Berchtesgadener Land is the leader with 320 liters in four days. In Austria, 364 liters fell in the area around St. Pölten and 369 liters in Lilienfeld. In Vienna, 279 liters were measured, then the measuring stations failed, so exact amounts are currently not available. In Poland, the most rain fell in Katowice, with 200 liters.
12:25 Romania: Floodwaters claim six lives in Carpathian region At least six people have died in the Carpathian region of Romania due to heavy rain and flooding. The regions of Galati, Vaslui, and Iasi in the east of the country were particularly affected. Around 300 people had to be evacuated, and about 6,000 farmhouses were flooded. The victims are mainly elderly people, including two women aged 96 and 86. The highest flood warning level remains in effect until midday. Remote villages are usually affected by the floodwaters. People climbed onto rooftops to avoid being swept away by the floods. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed.
11:59 Overflow in Saxony: Top at the Neiße surpassedIn Saxony, the water levels of the Elbe keep climbing. In Dresden, the level is currently at 5.62 meters as per the state's flood control center. The second flood warning level was issued last evening. The threshold for the third warning level, which is at six meters, is forecasted to be surpassed early on Tuesday morning. The Elbe's level in Dresden may continue to rise until Wednesday evening, possibly reaching its peak. In Schönau on the Czech border, the third warning level is applied with an Elbe water level of 6.13 meters. Meanwhile, the flood control center anticipates the water levels at the Neiße in Görlitz to decrease. The highest point of a flood is named the crest.
11:33 Austria: Two more souls lostIn Austria, two more individuals have breathed their last due to flooding, the police confirmed. A 70-year-old man and an 80-year-old man passed away in their homes in communities in Lower Austria, authorities reported. Both men were claimed by the floodwaters within their homes. On Sunday, a firefighter lost his life while draining a basement. Urgently essential measures are in place in eastern Austria due to days of continuous rainfall. Over 1800 buildings have been evacuated, and numerous roads are shut down due to flooding.
11:01 Wroclaw on Flood AlertFollowing severe storms and flooding in southwestern Poland, the city of Wroclaw (Breslau) in Lower Silesia is preparing for a surge in flooding. Mayor Jacek Sutryk has declared a flood alert for the city on the Oder River. Measures include constant monitoring of dikes, controlling and safeguarding canals, and closing dike crossings, Sutryk stated in a Facebook video. The flood wave is projected to reach Wroclaw on Wednesday. Previous forecasts suggesting that the city would not be severely impacted have been revised, Sutryk said. Although the flood is not anticipated to be as high as the 1997 Oder flood, which inundated a third of the city, Sutryk pointed out that the infrastructure is now in much better condition, with new dikes, retention basins, and polders. He hopes the floodwaters will not enter the city.
10:35 Governance on Flood Situation: "Critical Remains"Regardless of a short break in overnight rain, the flood situation in eastern Austria remains highly tense. "It's not over, it remains critical, it remains dramatic," declares Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. On Monday, up to 80 liters of rain per square meter are projected regionally. A significant problem now is the dams. "There is a high risk of dam failure," officials report. Public life is largely at a standstill. Over 200 roads in Lower Austria are closed, 1,800 buildings have been evacuated, many students and kindergarten children are staying at home, Mikl-Leitner says. Around 3,500 households are currently without power. The extent of the damage is currently unknown. "The flood victims will definitely be assisted," states the governor. In the past few days, up to 370 liters of rain per square meter have fallen regionally in Lower Austria - several times the typical monthly amount.
10:10 Elbe River Levels Rising in SaxonyThe water levels on the Elbe River in Saxony keep increasing. According to data from the state flood control center, the value in Dresden is at 5.54 meters in the morning. It is predicted that the six-meter mark will be surpassed during the day. From this value, the second-highest warning stage three applies. Flooding of built-up areas is possible. The warning stage three has already been reached at the gauge in Schöna on the Elbe near the Czech border, where the water level was at 6.09 meters. The same applies to the Lusatian Neiße at Görlitz on the border with Poland, where the water stood at 5.56 meters - merely a few centimeters from the highest warning stage four. A section of the federal road 99 in Görlitz has been closed for safety reasons, a police spokesman says. The warning level for stage 3 here is 4.80 meters.
09:49 Hundred-Year Flood in Czech Republic: Man Perishes in FloodwatersThe first reported death in the Czech floods has occurred. Authorities also mention at least seven missing individuals. A man was found drowned in the small river Krasovka in the district of Bruntal in the eastern part of Moravia-Silesia, police president Martin Vondrasek stated on public radio. Among the missing are three people who drove a car into a raging river near Jesenik in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. There is no sign of the vehicle. The others fell into various waterways such as the Otava River. A man from a retirement home on the border with Poland is also missing. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala speaks of a so-called hundred-year flood - a flood that statistically occurs once in a century in the same location. Previously, fatalities from flooding had already been reported from other EU countries (see entry 06:40): A firefighter died in Austria, a man in Poland, six people died in Romania.
09:17 Lady Slips and Plunges into Neiße in GoerlitzA lady had an unfortunate slip and took an unwanted dip into the Neiße near the Parkhotel Merkur in Goerlitz, as reported initially by the police. Following this incident, she was washed downstream for approximately 700 meters before managing to pull herself out near the Vierradmühle weir. She is now being treated in a medical facility for hypothermia.
09:00 THW Gears Up for Major Operations on Elbe and OderThe Technical Relief Agency (THW) is getting ready for potential flooding situations in Eastern Germany, as suggested by its head, Fritz-Helge Voss, during the ZDF "Morning Magazine". If required, the organization is prepared to deploy larger contingents to the Elbe and Oder. Residents in affected areas are advised to stock up on essential supplies, as per Voss's suggestion. Voss further mentions that Germany has been lucky thus far, but the Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers are expected to overflow this week. Over the weekend, the THW deployed about 140 personnel in Bavaria and Saxony, including services at the collapsed Carolabridge in Dresden. Voss cautions that this is the fourth major flooding incident in Germany this year, and it's vital to be prepared and invest in equipment. "Ultimately, these are climate adaptation expenses," says Voss.
08:43 Polish Government Reviews Emergency Response MeasuresFollowing severe flooding in southwestern Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday morning. Tusk has prepared a decree declaring a state of emergency, awaiting cabinet approval. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in southwestern Poland, particularly impacting Nysa, a town in the Opole region, during the night. The emergency room of the local hospital was inundated by water from the Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder, as reported by the PAP news agency. Approximately 33 patients, including children and pregnant women, were evacuated using boats.
08:15 Flood Situation Worsens in BavariaDespite tense conditions in some Bavarian areas, more rain is forecasted. The flood situation has not seen significant improvement in affected regions within the past 24 hours, as per police reports. The High Water Information Service (HND) expects water levels to surge again due to the rain. The Donau at Passau, the Vils at Vilshofen, and the Isar at Munich are all expected to be affected. The situation is expected to improve gradually from Wednesday. As per the German Weather Service (DWD), rain will fall from the Alps to the foreland continuously, with rainfall totals of 40 to 70 liters per square meter in certain areas, and up to 90 liters in stagnant areas.
07:32 Czech Republic: Flood Waters Persist, Levels Still RisingThere's no sign of relief in the flooded and inundated areas of the Czech Republic. The flood wave on the March (Morava) River has reached Litovel, approximately 200 kilometers east of Prague. Entire streets are submerged, according to the CTK news agency. The local authorities of the nearly 10,000-resident town have urged the population to avoid hindering the emergency services. "We anticipate a further increase in the water level of the river in the following few hours," warns the mayor on social media.
07:03 Dam Collapses in Poland: Local Fear of Flood WavesFollowing a dam collapse in Poland, residents in the region surrounding the Glatzer Neiße are concerned about the approaching flood waves. Videos depict the destructive power of the raging waters.
06:40 Floods Claim Lives in Poland, Austria, and RomaniaPoland, the Czech Republic, and Lower Austria are dealing with the aftermath of a once-in-a-century flood, and the situation in Romania is critical due to heavy rainfall. At least eight people have lost their lives due to flooding in a few EU countries: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six people in Romania.
06:12 Forced Evacuations in Czech Republic Due to FloodingDuring the worst storms in recent memory, floodwaters engulfed entire cities, such as Jeseník in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains and Krnov on the Polish border. In Jeseník, emergency services had to rescue countless individuals using boats and helicopters. After the floodwaters receded, there was a risk of landslides in various locations.
05:49 Stranded Cruise Passengers in ViennaDue to the high water levels on the Danube brought about by heavy rain, passengers on a Swiss river cruise ship are currently stuck in Vienna. Around 100 passengers and about 40 crew members cannot leave the "Thurgau Prestige" at the quay due to the flooded gangway to the pier, as reported by the Swiss broadcaster SRF, citing Thurgau Travel. The passengers are not allowed to disembark since the ship is stranded. According to reports, other cruise ships are also stranded in Vienna. Local authorities will determine when the passengers can disembark, according to Thurgau Travel. Residents on the ship have been informed they must stay on board until at least Tuesday. The "Thurgau Prestige" was supposed to sail from Linz to Budapest and back, but it is now stuck in Vienna.
The storm "Anett", internationally known as "Boris", has resulted in torrential rain and flooding in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania. At least eight people have perished so far.
The floods have also affected the Czech Republic, causing significant damage and evacuations in Ostrava, the third-largest city.
The flooding in Europe has led to a tragic loss of life in multiple countries, including the Czech Republic, where one person drowned in the Krasovka river in Moravia-Silesia.
