Storm Boris Triggers Deadly Floods in Central Europe

At least seven people are dead, including five in Romania and two in Austria and Poland, as intense rainfall and heavy winds are triggering massive floods across Central Europe. At least four are missing in the Czech Republic after being swept away by the raging currents. 

The flooding is from Storm Boris. It has upended bridges, washed out roads, and swamped homes. It's the worst to strike the region since 1997’s “flood of the century.” That storm killed 114 people. It also ran up billions of dollars in damages in several European countries. Flooding from Boris has prompted mass evacuations. Over 10,500 people have fled their homes in the Czech Republic. Nearly all of them are from the city of Opava (population 56,800). About 1,600 people escaped flooded homes in Klodzko, Poland. 

The Polish evacuations were triggered by a dam breach. During it, one person drowned. 

Red alerts remained in effect Sunday in the three countries that saw fatalities. Red alerts remain for Germany and Slovakia, too. Rescue crews fanned out across the region. They removed stranded passengers by boat and other means. Tens of thousands of people were left without power in Austria and Poland. In Czechy, 260,000 households lost power.  

Many were left homeless by the storm. Some said Boris took everything from them.  

This is worse than 1997, Pavel Bily told The Guardian. Bily is a resident of Lipová-lázne, Czech Republic. "I don’t know what will happen because my house is under water and I don’t know if I will even return to it,” Bily said. 

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis placed the blame for the floods on a warming planet.

Iohannis said in a statement that the effects of climate change are present more and more throughout Europe with "dramatic consequences.”  

Reflect: What might be some long-term effects on communities that experience frequent flooding?

Photo of the flood-affected area following heavy rainfall in the Czech Republic, from Reuters.