At 15:21, Poland announces a disaster state in certain territories
Poland Declares Emergency Disaster Status for Flooded Regions The Polish government, in an urgent gathering, has declared an emergency disaster situation for areas affected by floods. This status will remain active for 30 days in parts of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Opole provinces. This permits authorities to issue more strict orders as some civilian freedoms and rights are momentarily restricted. For instance, authorities can easily mandate evacuations of specific locations, zones, or facilities. They can also prohibit people from being in certain spots.
14:59 "More Frequent and Intense": Weather Expert Discusses Causes of Extreme Rain Flooded landscapes and roads, drenched dams: one of the worst floods in decades is causing depressing scenes in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania. However, why are extreme rain events and flood risks becoming more common? ntv questions flood expert Georg Johann.
14:34 Austrian Railways Expand Travel Warning Until Thursday Due to the current severe weather conditions in major parts of Austria, Austrian Railways (ÖBB) have expanded the urgent travel warning, in effect since September 13, 2024, until September 19, 2024. "We advise all passengers to postpone any unnecessary travel within this period to another time," ÖBB writes on its website. Previously bought tickets remain valid until September 22.
14:19 Death Toll from Flooding in Europe Rises to Eleven The death toll from flooding in several countries such as Austria, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic has risen to at least eleven. In Austria, two more people have died, according to police. In the Czech Republic, one person drowned in the Krasovka river in the eastern region of Moravia-Silesia, police president Martin Vondrasek told public broadcaster Czech Television. So far, ten deaths had been reported in the four countries. Czech authorities also report at least eight missing persons.
14:04 German Government Offers Support to Flood-Affected Europeans The German government offers its support to people affected by floods in several European countries. "The people in our neighboring countries, our European partners, and also the people here should know: We are closely monitoring the situation and stand ready to help," says deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin. The devastation in countries like Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania is often catastrophic. Hoffmann says: "We see the pictures with horror and are deeply moved by the news of deaths and missing persons. In the name of the German government, I convey our condolences and sympathy to all those affected."
13:43 Orbán Postpones International Meetings Due to Flooding Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has postponed all his international meetings due to flooding in his country. "Due to the extreme weather conditions and ongoing floods in Hungary, I have postponed all my international meetings," Orbán writes on the online service X. He does not provide further details. Orbán was scheduled to speak in a debate on the program of the six-month Hungarian EU Council presidency in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The right-wing populist politician often faces criticism from the European Parliament and the European Commission.
13:12 Ostrava Underwater: Flooding Leads to Dike Breaches in Czech Republic's Third-Largest City Due to serious flooding threat, evacuations have been expanded in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic. "There appear to be dike breaches in several districts," says Environment Minister Petr Hladik after an emergency meeting. Residents were partially evacuated using inflatable boats. It is estimated that around 100 cubic meters of water per second are flowing through the breaches. Efforts are being made to fill the gaps with stones. Ostrava, with approximately 285,000 inhabitants, is located at the confluence of several rivers, including the Oder and the Opava. The city, known for its mining and industry, is about 280 kilometers east of Prague. Train traffic to Ostrava and onwards to Poland remains completely disrupted. A power plant had to be shut down. In nearby Bohumin, flooding caused power and mobile networks to fail. The water supply has collapsed in many places.
12:33 Rain Record: 450 Liters of Rain per Square Meter in Czech Town The rainfall from depression "Anett" is enormous: Since Friday, 450 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Serec, Czech Republic, near the Polish border. This is the highest rainfall in 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 before the measuring stations failed, so exact amounts are currently unavailable. In Poland, the most rain fell in Katowice, with 200 liters.
12:25 Romania: Floodwaters Claim Six Lives in Carpathian Region Heavy rain and flooding have claimed the lives of at least six people in the Carpathian region of Romania. The regions of Galati, Vaslui, and Iasi in the east of the country were particularly affected. Around 300 people had to be rescued, and approximately 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. Isolated villages are often affected by the floodwaters. People climbed onto rooftops to avoid being swept away by the floods. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed.
11:59 Peaking Flood in Saxony: Elbe at its Highest at NeißeIn Saxony, the Elbe river's water levels are constantly rising. At midday in Dresden, the level stands at 5.62 meters, according to the state flood control center. On Sunday evening, the second flood warning stage was declared. The threshold for the third alarm stage, which is at six meters, is anticipated to be surpassed by early Tuesday morning. In Dresden, the Elbe's water level may continue to rise until Wednesday evening, reaching its peak. In Schöna, located near the Czech Republic border, the third-highest alarm stage is in place, with an Elbe water level of 6.13 meters. At the Neiße in Görlitz, the third-highest alarm stage is also in effect, but the flood control center predicts a decrease in water levels starting soon. The water level's highest point is known as the crest.
11:33 Fatalities in Austria: Two More Lives ClaimedIn Austria, two more lives have been claimed due to flooding, as reported by police. A 70-year-old man and an 80-year-old man unfortunately met their demise in their respective homes in communities in Lower Austria, authorities confirm. Both men succumbed to the floodwaters inside their buildings. On Sunday, a firefighter also lost his life while pumping out a basement. The weather conditions in eastern Austria remain uncanny, with heavy rain showers persisting for several days. Over 1800 buildings have been evacuated, and numerous roads are shut down due to flooding.
11:01 Flood Warning Issued in BreslauFollowing severe storms and flooding in southwestern Poland, the city of Breslau (Wroclaw) in Lower Silesia is on high alert for an incoming flood wave. Mayor Jacek Sutryk has issued a flood warning for the city on the Oder River. Efforts include round-the-clock monitoring of dikes, moving and protecting canals, and closing dike crossings, as Sutryk stated in a Facebook video. The flood wave is expected to reach Breslau on Wednesday. Previously, forecasts suggesting Breslau would not be as severely affected were revised, the mayor informs. Although the flood is not predicted to reach the height of the 1997 Oder flood, which drenched a third of the city, Sutryk asserts that the infrastructure is much better conditioned today, with new dikes, retainage basins, and polders. He hopes the flood will not breach the city's defenses.
10:35 Critical Situation in Eastern Austria: Governor's UpdateDespite a brief respite from rain in the night, the flood situation in eastern Austria is still precarious. "It's not over, it remains critical, it remains dramatic," says Lower Austria Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. On Monday, up to 80 liters of rain per square meter are predicted in certain regions. The risk of dam failure is the major concern, with authorities cautioning of the highest risk of dam collapse. Public life is largely at a standstill, with up to 200 roads blocked, over 1800 buildings evacuated, and many students and kindergarten children staying home, Mikl-Leitner reports. Around 3500 households are currently without power. The scope of damages remains uncertain. "Help will be provided to all flood victims," the governor promises. In recent days, some regions in Lower Austria have received up to 370 liters of rain per square meter - several times the usual monthly amount.
10:10 Alert Level Two: Elbe Levels Still ClimbingIn Saxony, the Elbe river's water levels are continuing to rise. According to data from the state's flood center, the level in Dresden stood at 5.54 meters in the morning. Exceeding the six-meter mark is anticipated during the day. From this level, the second-highest alert level two is in effect, making flooding of inhabited areas possible. The alert level two has already been reached at the gauge in Schöna on the Elbe near the Czech border, where the level was at 6.09 meters. The Lausitzer Neiße near the Polish border is also at alert level two, with the water level at 5.56 meters, just a few centimeters from the highest alert level three. The federal highway 99 in Görlitz has been closed for safety reasons, as reported by a police spokesperson. The warning level for stage 2 here is 4.80 meters.
09:49 Record Flooding in Czech Republic: Man Drowns in FloodwatersThe first confirmed death from flooding in the Czech Republic has been reported. Authorities are also searching for at least seven missing persons. A man tragically drowned in the small river Krasovka in the district of Bruntál in the eastern region of Moravia-Silesia, according to police president Martin Vondrasek on public radio. The missing include three people who were swept away in a car near Jeseník in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. No sign of the vehicle was found. The other people were swept away in various waterways, including the Otava River. A man from an elderly care home near the Polish border is also missing. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the flooding as a "century flood," denoting that it occurs statistically once in a century in the same place. Previously, fatalities from flooding had been reported from other EU countries (see entry 06:40): a firefighter died in Austria, a man in Poland, and six people in Romania.
09:17 Woman Slips into Neiße River in GörlitzA woman tumbled into the Neiße river while inspecting its water level in Görlitz. Initial reports from local authorities suggest that she slipped at the river's edge close to the Parkhotel Merkur and fell into the water. She swam approximately 700 meters downstream before successfully pulling herself ashore near the Vierradmer weir. She is currently receiving treatment for hypothermia at a nearby clinic.
09:00 THW Readies for Elbe and Oder Flood PrepThe Technical Relief Agency (THW) is readying its forces for potential flooding in eastern Germany. THW head, Fritz-Helge Voss, stated in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin," that they are preparing to deploy larger teams to the Elbe and Oder rivers. Voss advises people in affected areas to stock emergency supplies. According to Voss, while the extreme weather condition has not occurred yet, Germany remains vulnerable. The Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers are projected to flood in the following week. Over the weekend, THW deployed 140 personnel in Bavaria and Saxony, including at the collapsed Carolabridge in Dresden. Voss emphasizes the necessity of preparedness and investing in necessary equipment, calling these expenditures "climate adaptation costs."
08:43 Poland's Government Considering State of EmergencyPrime Minister Donald Tusk has called an emergency meeting of the Polish Cabinet at 9 am on Monday, in response to the severe flooding in the southwestern regions of Poland. Tusk has prepared a decree for a state of emergency, which requires cabinet approval. Persistent rainfall in southwestern Poland, near the Czech Republic border, has led to extensive flooding, especially affecting Nysa in the Opole region. The Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder, flooded Nysa's hospital emergency room overnight, forcing the evacuation of 33 patients.
08:15 Flooding Concerns in BavariaThe flooding situation in Bavaria remains precarious, with more rain anticipated. Police reports indicate that conditions have remained the same in the affected areas overnight. However, there's no respite on the horizon: according to the Hochwasser-Nachrichtendienst, water levels will rise again with the forecasted rainy start to the week. The HND anticipates that water levels in the Danube at Passau, Vils at Vilshofen, and Isar at Munich will all increase. The scenario is predicted to gradually improve from Wednesday. Until Tuesday, the German Weather Service (DWD) projects consistent rainfall from the Alps to the foreland, with potential rainfall volumes of 40 to 70 liters per square meter, and as high as 90 liters in some locations.
07:32 Flooding Persists in Czech RepublicThere's no respite for those affected by flooding and inundation in the Czech Republic. The March (Morava) flood wave reached Litovel, about 200 kilometers east of Prague, submerging entire city streets, according to the CTK news agency. Local officials in Litovel issued warnings of further water level increases in the coming hours.
07:03 Dam Breach and Ensuing Floods in PolandPoland is experiencing rising concern following a dam breach, as catastrophic floods threaten the region surrounding the Glatzer Neiße. Videos show the force of the rushing floodwaters.
06:40 Death Toll Rising from Floods in EuropePoland and the Czech Republic grapple with the aftermath of a century's worth of flooding, and the situation in Lower Austria is in crisis following heavy rainfall. Multiple fatalities have been reported across European countries due to flooding: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six individuals in Romania.
06:12 Evacuations Required due to Czech FloodingHistoric storms caused the Czech Republic's towns like Jeseník in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains and Krnov on the Poland border to flood over the weekend. In Jeseník, emergency services were forced to rescue hundreds of people by boat and helicopter during the floods. After the water receded, there were concerns of landslides in several locations.
05:49 Stranded Cruise Passengers in ViennaSevere flooding on the Danube by heavy rain has stranded cruise passengers in Vienna. Approximately 100 passengers and crew members on the "Thurgau Prestige" are unable to disembark, due to the submerged gangway between the ship and the pier. Local authorities will decide when and if passengers can disembark, and passengers have been informed they may be stranded until at least Tuesday, according to Swiss broadcaster SRF. The "Thurgau Prestige" is scheduled to sail from Linz to Budapest and back, but is currently stationary in Vienna.
Tropical Cyclone "Anett," globally recognized as "Boris," has unleashed biblical downpours and flooding upon Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania. Regrettably, at least eight lives have been claimed thus far.
The Polish government, invoking the powers granted by the emergency disaster status, can mandate evacuations of specific areas or facilities in the affected regions. The Commission, as part of its role in monitoring the situation, has offered support to the people affected by floods in several European countries.
