'100 Years of Heavy Rain' Floods Hit Central Europe Including Romania

4 Dead in Romania... Partial Suspension of Czech Railway Services

In Central Europe, heavy rains not seen in decades have caused numerous deaths and flooded thousands of homes, leading to widespread flooding. The heavy rain, caused by the low-pressure storm 'Boris,' is expected to continue in some areas until the 15th.

A Romanian village submerged by floodwaters. / Photo by AFP·Yonhap News

According to Bloomberg and CNN on the 14th (local time), four people have died due to flooding in eastern Romania, and hundreds are stranded. Romanian authorities reported that the region experienced the highest rainfall in 100 years over the past 24 hours and have deployed more than 200 rescue workers to the flood-affected areas.

C?t?lin Predoiu, Romania's Minister of the Interior, stated that 5,000 households across seven regions were affected by the floods, and 100 people have been rescued. Minister Predoiu added, "Unfortunately, four people were found dead in their homes or yards."

In some villages, as water levels rose, residents evacuated to rooftops, and the military and rescue teams are conducting operations using boats and helicopters.

Romanian Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu visited Gala?i, the eastern region hardest hit. In Gala?i, 5,000 homes were damaged, and 25,000 households experienced power outages. Prime Minister Ciolacu said, "Our priority is, of course, saving lives," adding, "We are currently securing all necessary logistics for rapid intervention."

Heavy rains also fell in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and southern Germany.

In the Czech Republic, the northern and northeastern regions suffered the most flood damage, with power outages affecting 51,000 households. Petr Hlad?k, Czech Minister of the Environment, urged residents in these areas to prepare to evacuate their homes.

Czech Railways suspended operations on dozens of routes, and in the capital Prague, barriers were installed to prevent the Vltava River from overflowing. The zoo located along the Vltava River was also closed. In Brno, the Czech Republic's second-largest city, a hospital evacuated patients as a precaution.

In Głuchołazy, southwestern Poland near the Czech border, firefighters stacked hundreds of sandbags along the riverbank as water levels rose, and some residents evacuated. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X (formerly Twitter), "We are facing an important night. Full mobilization is needed."

In Slovakia, concerns have been raised that the Danube River may flood the capital Bratislava due to heavy rains. In Hungary, river levels are expected to approach record highs over the coming days.

In Austria, rising river levels due to heavy rain prompted rescue teams to respond in several regions overnight. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said all states were affected by the heavy rain, with the situation worsening particularly in Nieder?sterreich (Lower Austria). In Sankt P?lten, the capital of Nieder?sterreich, rainfall is expected to exceed 300 mm, more than four times the average for September.

Germany is preparing for floods in the southern and eastern regions. In Saxony, which borders Austria, a flood warning has been issued due to river overflow.