At present, the number of casualties due to floods surpasses decades-old records.
15:21 Poland Imposes Emergency Measures for Flooded Regions Poland has instituted emergency measures for areas stricken by flooding. The administration in Warsaw has authorized an emergency decree during a crisis meeting. The emergency status will remain in effect for 30 days in sections of Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Opole provinces. The measure empowers authorities to issue orders, temporarily suspending certain civil liberties and rights. For example, authorities can more easily direct evacuations of specific locations, zones, or facilities. They may also prohibit citizens from accessing certain areas.
14:59 Elevated Rainfall Frequencies and Flood Risks: Expert Interview Inundated landscapes and roads, damaged dikes: one of the worst floods in several decades has resulted in tragic scenes in Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, and Romania. But why are extreme rainfall events and flood risks becoming increasingly prevalent? ntv speaks with water expert Georg Johann.
14:34 Austrian Rail Services Issue Travel Advisory Until Thursday Due to the ongoing severe weather conditions in numerous regions of Austria, Austrian Rail Services (ÖBB) have extended the urgent travel recommendation issued on September 13, 2024, until September 19, 2024. ÖBB encourages all passengers to delay non-essential travel during this period. Existing tickets will remain valid until September 22.
14:19 Flood Death Toll Rises to At Least 11 The death toll from flooding in Austria, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic has escalated to at least 11. According to police reports, two more people have perished in Austria. In the Czech Republic, one individual drowned in the Krasovka river in the eastern region of Moravia-Silesia, confirmed police president Martin Vondrasek on public radio. Previously, eight casualties had been reported in the four countries. Czech authorities have also acknowledged at least seven missing persons.
14:04 Federal Government Issues Assistance to Flood-Affected Individuals in Europe The federal government has offered aid to individuals impacted by flooding in various European countries. "The people in neighboring countries, our EU partners, and those in our own land should understand: we are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to assist," stated deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin. The destruction in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania is frequently catastrophic. Hoffmann added, "We view these images with horror and are shocked by the news of deaths and missing persons. On behalf of the federal government, I extend our condolences and sympathies to all those affected."
13:43 Orban Postpones International Engagements Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has deferred all "external engagements" due to the flooding in his nation. "Due to the extreme weather conditions and ongoing flooding in Hungary, I have postponed all my international engagements," Orban wrote on the online platform X. He did not provide additional information. Orban had previously been scheduled to participate in a debate on the Hungarian EU Council presidency's six-month program in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on September 18. The right-wing politician is often subject to criticism from the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.
13:12 Ostrava Overwhelmed by Floodwaters: Czech Republic's Third-Largest City Emergency evacuations have been extended in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, as a result of impending flooding danger. "It appears that there have been several dike breaches in several districts," stated Environment Minister Petr Hladik after an emergency meeting. Residents were partially rescued using inflatable boats. Approximately 100 cubic meters of water per second are flowing through the breaches. Efforts are being made to fill the gaps with stones. Ostrava, home to about 285,000 inhabitants, is located at the confluence of several rivers, including the Oder and the Opava. The mining and industrial city is situated around 280 kilometers east of Prague. Train service to Ostrava and beyond towards Poland is completely disrupted. A power plant had to be closed. In nearby Bohumin, water and mobile phone networks have gone offline due to flooding. The drinking water supply has failed in numerous locations.
12:33 Record Rainfall: 450 Liters Per Square Meter in Czech Town The rainfall from depression "Anett" is substantial: Since September 13, 450 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Serec, Czech Republic, near the Polish border. This represents the highest rainfall of recent days, explains ntv.de weather expert Oliver Scheel. In Germany, Ruhpolding/Berchtesgadener Land leads with a total of 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 recorded, followed by malfunctioning weather stations, so exact amounts are not currently available. In Poland, the most rain, 200 liters, fell in Katowice.
12:25 Romania: Floodwaters Claim Six Lives in Carpathian Region At least six individuals have perished in the Carpathian region of Romania as a result of heavy rain and flooding. The regions of Galati, Vaslui, and Iasi in the east of the country have been severely impacted. Around 300 people have been evacuated, and approximately 6,000 farmhouses have been flooded. The majority of the victims are elderly people, including two women aged 96 and 86. The highest flood warning level remains in effect until midday. The floods mainly affect remote villages. People took refuge on rooftops to avoid being swept away by the floods. Hundreds of firefighters were on duty.
11:59 Flooding Peaks in Saxony: Neiße OverflowThe waters in Saxony's Elbe are still rising. In Dresden, the level is at 5.62 meters, according to the state's flood control center, with the second flood warning level activated on Sunday evening. The threshold for the third alarm level, at 6 meters, is expected to be surpassed before Tuesday morning's break of dawn. By Wednesday evening, Dresden's Elbe level might reach its peak. In Schönau, bordering the Czech Republic, the alarm level three is in effect with a 6.13-meter Elbe water height. However, the flood center predicts the Neiße waters in Görlitz to decrease. The flood's peak is known as the crest.
11:33 Austria Toll Rises to Four:In Austria, four deaths are now attributed to the flooding, as reported by police. Two elderly men, 70 and 80, perished in their homes in Lower Austria communities. They fell victim to the floodwaters within their dwellings. On Sunday, a firefighter perished while draining a basement. As the rain has persisted for days, a state of emergency has been declared in eastern Austria. Over 1,800 homes have been evacuated, and various roads are now closed due to flooding.
11:01 Wrocław Warns of Flooding:Post heavy storms and flooding in southwestern Poland, the city of Wrocław (Breslau) in Lower Silesia prepares for potential flooding. Mayor Jacek Sutryk declared a flood warning for the city, centered on the Oder River. He emphasized 24/7 monitoring of dikes, maintenance of canals, and closure of dike crossings in a Facebook video. The flood wave is expected to reach Wrocław on Wednesday. Previously, the city was expected to be unaffected; however, Sutryk revised these forecasts, citing inadequate infrastructure from the 1997 Oder flood, which engulfed one-third of the city. Yet, he hoped the floodwaters would not breach city boundaries.
10:35 Governor Reviews Austrian Flood Plight:Despite a brief night's rain pause, the flooding situation in eastern Austria remains critical, according to Lower Austria's Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner. Monsoon-like downpours of up to 80 liters per square meter are expected on Monday. A key concern is the dams. "There is a high risk of dam failure," officials warn. Life is largely at a standstill, as over 200 roads in Lower Austria are closed, 1,800 buildings have been evacuated, and many schools and kindergartens are closed. Adding to this, around 3,500 families are presently without electricity, and the full extent of the damage is uncertain. "Relief will be provided to the flooded areas' victims," the governor vowed. In certain Lower Austria regions, approximately 370 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in the past days - much more than the usual monthly amount.
10:10 Saxony's Elbe Levels Ascend:Elbe River waters in Saxony continue to rise. In Dresden, the water height was 5.54 meters in the morning, surpassing 6 meters before day's end, triggering a level-two alert (out of three). At this level, urban areas may flood. The alarm level three has already been reached at Schöna's Elbe gauge on the Czech border, with a 6.09-meter water height. Similarly, level three is in effect at the Lusatian Neiße near Görlitz on the Poland border, with a 5.56-meter water height, just beneath the level-four alarm trigger. The Lusatian Neiße highway 99 section in Görlitz has been closed for safety reasons, as per a police spokesman. The warning level for level three is 4.80 meters there.
09:49 Czech Republic Sets Record with Century Flood:The first fatality in the Czech flooding has been confirmed. Police also report seven missing persons. In Bruntal's eastern Moravia-Silesia district, a man drowned in the Krasovka river. Three people were swept away with a car near Jesenik in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains, with no trace of the vehicle. Others vanished into various waterways, such as the Otava River. A retired home resident on the Polish border is also unaccounted for. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala deemed the flood "a century flood" - one that statistically occurs only once per century in the same place. Previously, flood fatalities were reported from other EU countries (entry 06:40): A firefighter died in Austria, a man in Poland, and six people in Romania.
09:17 Woman Falls into Neiße in GoerlitzA woman lost her footing and tumbled into the Neiße near the Parkhotel Merkur in Goerlitz. As per initial reports from the police, this incident occurred around 9:17 AM. She was swept away for approximately 700 meters before she managed to pull herself ashore just before the Vierradmühle weir. Currently, she's receiving treatment in a hospital for hypothermia.
09:00 THW Prepares for Flooding Emergency in East GermanyThe German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is preparing for potential flooding in eastern Germany. As stated by THW department head Fritz-Helge Voss on the ZDF "Morning Magazine", they're ready to dispatch larger teams to the Elbe and Oder if necessary. Voss encourages residents to stock up on essential supplies, as Germany has thus far been fortunate but expects the Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers to flood in the near future. As of now, the THW has deployed around 140 personnel in Bavaria and Saxony, including at the wreckage of the Carolabridge in Dresden. Voss implies that this is Germany's fourth major flooding incident this year, emphasizing the need for preparedness and equipment investment, describing these costs as "climate adaptation expenses."
08:43 Polish Government Meets to Discuss State of DisasterPrime Minister Donald Tusk has called an emergency meeting of the Polish cabinet for Monday morning in response to severe flooding in southwestern Poland. Tusk has prepared a decree to declare a state of disaster, which the cabinet must approve. Heavy rain has caused flooding in southwestern Poland, particularly affecting the town of Nysa in the Opole region. The emergency room at the local district hospital has been inundated with water from the Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder, according to the PAP news agency. Thirty-three patients, including children and pregnant women, had to be evacuated by boat.
08:15 Bavaria Braces for More Rain and Rising Water LevelsThe flood situation in Bavaria remains precarious, even with the anticipation of more rain. The police report that the situation has not improved overnight. The Hochwassernewsdienst (HND) forecasts a rise in water levels again as a consequence of the upcoming rainy weather. The HND predicts that water levels on the Danube in Passau, the Vils in Vilshofen, and the Isar in Munich will increase once more. The situation should gradually improve from Wednesday onwards, as suggested by the German Weather Service (DWD). According to the DWD, the Alps to the foreland may receive continuous rain from Monday to Tuesday, with rainfall amounts of 40 to 70 liters per square meter possible, and up to 90 liters in some areas.
07:32 Czech Republic: Flood Levels Remain ElevatedThere's no sign of relief in the Czech Republic's flood and inundation zones. The flood wave on the March (Morava) river has reached Litovel, approximately 200 kilometers east of Prague. Entire streets are underwater, as reported by the CTK news agency. Authorities have appealed to the public not to hinder emergency services, as they expect further water level increases in the next few hours.
07:03 Dam Breach Causes Flooding in PolandAfter a dam failure in Poland, locals fear the impending floods heading towards the area surrounding the Glatzer Neiße. Videos capture the intensity of the surging floodwaters.
06:40 Flood-Related Deaths in Poland and RomaniaPoland and the Czech Republic are grappling with the aftermath of an unprecedented flood, while the situation in Lower Austria is at a critical point after heavy rainfall. At least eight individuals have lost their lives due to flooding in various EU countries: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six residents of Romania.
06:12 Flooding Results in Evacuations in the Czech RepublicIn the Czech Republic, the worst storms in years have led to cities like Jesenik in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains and Krnov on the Polish border being inundated. Emergency services had to rescue hundreds of individuals in Jesenik using boats and helicopters. After the floodwaters receded, there was a risk of landslides in numerous locations.
05:49 Cruise Ship Passengers Stranded in ViennaDue to high water levels on the Danube attributable to heavy rainfall, passengers aboard a Swiss river cruise ship are currently stuck in Vienna. About 100 passengers and 40 crew members cannot leave the "Thurgau Prestige" ship, which is now secured to the shore, as the pier's gangway is submerged, according to the Swiss broadcaster SRF, citing Thurgau Travel. The passengers are unable to disembark because the pier's gangway is flooded. Local authorities will decide when and if passengers can leave the ship, as reported by the media. Passengers are informed 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 is now unmovable in Vienna.
The storm "Anett", internationally known as "Boris", has resulted in biblical rainfall and flooding across Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania, causing at least eight fatalities so far.
In the midst of this widespread flooding, the administration in Warsaw has instituted emergency measures for affected areas in Lower Silesia, Silesia, and Opole provinces. Due to the severe flooding, the situation in eastern Austria remains critical, with over 200 roads closed and around 3,500 families without electricity.
