At 10:35 PM, it's still of paramount importance.
Despite a temporary pause in rainfall, the flood situation in eastern Austria remains critical. Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner declares, "It ain't over yet, it's still critical, it's still dramatic." On Monday, up to 80 liters of rain per square meter are projected in certain regions. The main issue now is the dams. Officials warn, "We're on the brink of dam failure." Public life is at a standstill with over 200 roads closed, 1,800 buildings evacuated, and many students and kindergarten kids staying home. Mikl-Leitner adds, "Approximately 3,500 households are currently without power." The extent of damage is impossible to estimate at this point. The governor assures, "We'll be helping out the flood victims for sure." In the past few days, up to 370 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Lower Austria - significantly more than the typical monthly amount.
10:10 Near danger level three: Elbe water levels continue rising. Water levels on the Elbe in Saxony have been steadily increasing. According to state flood center data, the value in Dresden is 5.54 meters this morning. It is forecasted that the six-meter mark will be exceeded today. When the water level reaches six meters, we enter the second-highest danger level three. Flooding of urban areas becomes a possibility. The danger level three has already been attained at the gauge in Schöna on the Elbe by the Czech border, where the water level reached 6.09 meters. The Lausitzer Neiße in Görlitz near the Polish border is also at danger level three. The water level there is 5.56 meters, just a few centimeters away from danger level four. For safety reasons, a section of the federal highway 99 in Görlitz has been closed. The warning level for level three is 4.80 meters here.
09:49 Century-scale flood in Czech Republic: Man perishes in floods. The first confirmed death in the Czech floods has been reported. Authorities also report at least seven individuals missing. A man drowned in the small river Krasovka in the district of Bruntál, eastern Moravia-Silesia, as per police president Martin Vondrasek on public radio. Three people drove their car into a raging river near Jeseník in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, leaving no trace of the vehicle. In various waterways, such as the Otava River, others have fallen. A man from an old peoples' home on the Polish border is also missing. The Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala refers to this as a "century-scale" flood - a flood statistically occurring once a century in the same place. Prior to this, flood-related fatalities had been reported in other EU countries (see entry 06:40): A firefighter died in Austria, a man in Poland, six individuals in Romania.
09:17 Woman checks Elbe water level in Görlitz and falls in. A woman slipped into the Neiße while inspecting water levels in Görlitz. According to initial police reports, she lost her footing near the Parkhotel Merkur and plunged into the river. She was swept away about 700 meters before she managed to save herself near the Vierradenmühle weir. She is currently hospitalized due to hypothermia.
09:00 THW prepares for major operations on Elbe and Oder. The Technical Relief Agency (THW) is getting ready for potential flooding in eastern Germany. THW department head Fritz-Helge Voss shares, "We're gearing up to deploy larger forces to the Elbe and Oder rivers if needed." Voss advises residents in affected areas to stock up on essential supplies. Voss mentions that Germany has been "lucky" so far but anticipates extreme weather conditions in the near future. The Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers are forecasted to flood this week. Over the weekend, the THW had approximately 140 personnel deployed in Bavaria and Saxony, including at the collapsed Carolabridge in Dresden. Voss highlights the importance of preparation, stating, "These are climate adaptation costs."
08:43 Polish cabinet deliberates on state of emergency. As a result of severe flooding in southwestern Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk has called for an emergency cabinet meeting Monday morning. He has drafted a decree for a state of emergency, but cabinet approval is still required. Persistent rainfall in southwestern Poland, near the Czech border, has resulted in flooding. The town of Nysa in the Opole region was heavily impacted overnight. Water from the Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder, flooded the local hospital's emergency room, causing the evacuation of 33 patients, including children and pregnant women, by boat.
08:15 Bavaria: More Rain and Rising Water Levels Anticipated The flood situation in certain parts of Bavaria stays severe, with additional rain predicted. The scene hasn't significantly altered since yesterday, as per police headquarters. There's no respite yet: the Flood Information Service (HND) forecasts that water levels will ascend again with the rainy start of the week. The HND estimates that water levels on the Danube at Passau, the Vils at Vilshofen, and the Isar at Munich will increase once more. The situation is predicted to gradually ease from Wednesday. Until Tuesday, the German Weather Service (DWD) projects continual rain from the Alps to the plain, with potential rainfall amounts of 40 to 70 liters per square meter, and up to 90 liters in specific areas.
07:32 Czech Republic: No Alleviation – Water Levels Keep Climbing There's no hint of alleviation in the flood-affected and submerged regions of the Czech Republic. The flood wave on the March (Morava) river has reached Litovel, about 200 kilometers east of Prague. Entire streets are submerged, according to the CTK news agency. The local authorities of the town with almost 10,000 residents urge the population not to obstruct the emergency services. "In the coming hours, we anticipate a further increase in the river's water level," the mayor warns on social media.
07:03 Dam Burst: Footage Shows Terrifying Floods in Poland Apprehension is growing in Poland after a dam rupture triggers devastating floods heading towards the area around the Glatzer Neiße. Footage showcases the ferocity of the surging waters.
06:40 Flooding in Europe: Deaths in Poland and Romania Poland and the Czech Republic are grappling with the aftermath of a once-in-a-century flood, while the situation in Lower Austria is critical following heavy rainfall. Several casualties have occurred due to flooding: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six in Romania.
06:12 Evacuations Due to Flooding in the Czech Republic The worst storms in years saw floodwaters inundate cities like Jeseník in the Jeseníky Mountains and Krnov near the Polish border. In Jeseník, emergency services had to employ boats and helicopters to save hundreds of people from the floodwaters. After the waters subsided, there was a risk of landslides in numerous locations.
05:49 Cruise Ship Passengers Stranded in Vienna Due to high waters on the Danube caused by heavy rain, numerous passengers on a Swiss river cruise ship are trapped in Vienna. The around 100 passengers and 40 crew members cannot disembark from the "Thurgau Prestige," which is secured to the shore, as reported by Swiss broadcaster SRF, citing travel company Thurgau Travel. The gangway to the pier is flooded, and other cruise ships are also reportedly trapped in Vienna. Local authorities will determine when passengers can disembark. According to passenger reports, they may have to remain on the ship until at least Tuesday. The "Thurgau Prestige" was supposed to sail from Linz to Budapest and back, but it's currently stuck in Vienna.
Storm "Anett," internationally named "Boris," has unleashed biblical rainfall and flooding on Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania, resulting in at least eight fatalities so far.
1: The Floods of the Elbe continue to pose a threat, as water levels in Dresden are projected to exceed 6 meters today, reaching danger level three.
2: In addition, the flood situation in Czech Republic remains critical, with several regions, including Görlitz near the Polish border, also at danger level three due to the rising water levels of the Lausitzer Neiße.
