The Authority has been tasked with providing a proposal for a mandate that safeguards laborers from the hazards stemming from contact with ionizing radiation.
17:06 Lang: "Time for Action Now"
The Green Party leader, Ricarda Lang, voices her concern over the urgent need for political action in response to the critical flooding situations in Central and Eastern Europe. She cites the climate crisis as the main culprit, making floods and heavy rainfall more frequent, severe, and likely. She urges politics to not only react but also prepare for such situations. Her sentiments are echoed after discussions with the party executive in Berlin. "So, it's high time we act now", she suggests. The climate protection issue, she argues, needs to be prioritized higher on the political agenda. Looking at the CDU leader, Friedrich Merz, she points out that the world didn't end last year as he had claimed, only to emphasize the importance of paying more attention to climate protection.
16:41 Austria Allocates Millions for Flood Damage Clearance
Austria's Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, initially allocated 300 million euros from the disaster fund to clear up flood damage in Austria. These funds can be topped up if necessary, the OVP head of government mentions. Private individuals who lost property due to the natural disaster can also apply for financial help from this fund. The extent of the damage caused by the multi-day record rainfall in eastern Austria is still unclear.
16:08 Crack in Dam: Immediate Evacuation
The mayor of Paczkow, Artur Rolka, in southwestern Poland, announced an immediate evacuation of lower-lying districts due to a crack discovered in the dam of a reservoir. He warns that the damage could worsen and urges all residents who need to be evacuated to report. Houseowners and apartment dwellers yet to be affected by the water are also advised to leave and move to safe areas of the city. After voluntary evacuation appeals were ignored, the mayor decided on a compulsory evacuation, he states in a Polish television interview. The affected reservoir was built above Paczkow on the Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder.
15:54 Habeck: More Efforts to "Tame the Climate Crisis"
Green Party Vice-Chancellor, Robert Habeck, calls for increased determination in climate protection in light of the flood disaster in several European countries. He advocates for faster expansion of renewables, the energy transition, and climate-friendly production in industry. "More frequent floods, catastrophes like the Ahr valley, this year in Bavaria - they are a result of the climate crisis", Habeck says. "Therefore, our efforts to tame the climate crisis are so crucial". However, he acknowledges that more frequent extreme weather events can't be stopped at this point, so more precautionary measures are required. "Stronger dikes, retention systems, more space for rivers" are necessary to better protect people, he suggests.
15:36 More Flood Deaths
At least 15 people have lost their lives due to flooding in several European countries, including Austria (3 deaths), the Czech Republic (1 fatality), Poland (5 deaths), and Romania (6 deaths).
15:21 Poland Declares State of Catastrophe for Some Regions
Poland has declared a state of catastrophe for flood-hit areas, granting authorities more powers to issue orders, and temporarily restricting civil liberties and rights. This includes the ability to easily order evacuations of certain places or facilities, and ban citizens from being in certain areas.
14:59 Expert Explains Causes of Extreme Rainfall Events
An expert, Georg Johann, explains why extreme rainfall events and flood risks are becoming more frequent. He associates this with climate change. Flooded landscapes and roads, soaked dikes, and water-soaked communities are the tragic scenes in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania due to these heavy rainfalls.
14:34 Austrian Federal Railways Extend Travel Warning Until Thursday
Austrian Federal Railways have extended the urgent travel warning issued on September 13, 2024, until September 19, 2024, due to the severe weather conditions across Austria.
14:19 Death Toll from Flooding in Europe Rises
At least 11 people have lost their lives in parts of Austria, Poland, Romania, and the Czech Republic due to flooding. In Austria, two more people have died, while one person drowned in the Krasovka River in the eastern region of Moravia-Silesia in the Czech Republic. Czech authorities also report at least seven missing individuals.
14:04 Europe Flood Disaster: Federal Government Offers Aid The federal government is offering aid to individuals affected by flooding in numerous European countries. "Our neighbors, European partners, and even those here should understand: We are closely monitoring the situation and are prepared to assist," declares deputy government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann in Berlin. The devastation in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania is often catastrophic. Hoffmann states, "These disturbing images and the news of casualties and missing people leave us horrified and sympathetic. On behalf of the federal government, our condolences and sympathies go out to all those affected."
13:43 Orban Cancels International Obligations Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has postponed all his international engagements due to the flooding in his country. "Due to the extreme weather conditions and ongoing floods in Hungary, I have postponed all my international obligations," Orban posted on the online service X. No further information was provided. Orban was scheduled to speak at a debate on the six-month program of the Hungarian EU Council presidency at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday. The right-wing politician is often met with harsh criticism from the EU Parliament and the EU Commission.
13:12 Ostrava Submerged: Dikes Broken in Czech Republic's Third Largest City Evacuations have been expanded in Ostrava, the Czech Republic's third largest city, due to imminent flooding danger. "Clear breaches have been identified in several districts," Environment Minister Petr Hladik stated after an emergency meeting. Residents were partially evacuated using inflatable boats. Estimates suggest that around 100 cubic meters of water per second are flowing through the gaps. Attempts are being made to fill the gaps with stones. Ostrava, with a population of approximately 285,000, is located at the confluence of several rivers, including the Oder and the Opava. Ostrava, an industrial and mining city, is roughly 280 kilometers east of Prague. Train traffic to Ostrava and further towards Poland has been completely disrupted. A power plant had to be shut down. In nearby Bohumin, power and mobile networks malfunctioned due to flooding. The water supply collapsed in numerous locations.
12:33 Record Rainfall: 450 Liters per Square Meter in Czech Town The rainfall from depression "Anett" is substantial: Since Friday, 450 liters of rain per square meter have fallen in Serec, Czech Republic, near the Polish border. This is the highest rainfall of recent days, according to ntv.de meteorologist Oliver Scheel. In Germany, Ruhpolding/Berchtesgadener Land leads with 320 liters in four days. In Austria, 364 liters fell in the St. Pölten area and 369 liters in Lilienfeld. Vienna recorded 279 liters, but the rain gauges subsequently failed, so exact information is temporarily 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 severe flooding have claimed at least six lives in the Carpathian region of Romania. The regions of Galati, Vaslui, and Iasi in eastern Romania were particularly affected. Approximately 300 people had to be evacuated, and around 6,000 farmhouses were flooded. The deceased are primarily elderly individuals, including two women aged 96 and 86. The highest flood warning level remains in effect until noon. The flooding primarily impacts remote villages. People sought refuge on rooftops to avoid being swept away by the floodwaters. Hundreds of firefighters were deployed.
11:59 Flooding in Saxony: Peak Approaches
The water levels in the Elbe in Saxony continue to rise. In Dresden, the level is 5.62 meters at noon, according to the state's flood control center. The second flood warning level was issued on Sunday evening. It is estimated that the third alarm level, at six meters, will be exceeded early Tuesday morning. The Elbe's level in Dresden is expected to continue rising until Wednesday evening and reach its peak. In Schönau on the border with the Czech Republic, the third alarm level has been activated with an Elbe water level of 6.13 meters. At the Neiße in Görlitz, the third alarm level has also been triggered, but the flood control center anticipates that the water levels will start to decrease. The highest point of a flood is called the peak.
11:33 Austria: Two Additional Deaths
In Austria, two more people have lost their lives due to flooding, according to the police. A 70-year-old man and an 80-year-old man died in their homes in communities in Lower Austria, officials reported. Both men succumbed to the floodwaters in their houses. On Sunday, a firefighter also perished while draining a basement. Exceptional circumstances have been declared in eastern Austria due to the persistent rainfall over the past few days. Over 1,800 buildings have been evacuated, and numerous roads have been closed due to flooding.
Following intense storms and floods in southwestern Poland, Wrocław (previously known as Breslau) in Lower Silesia is bracing for more flooding. Mayor Jacek Sutryk has issued a flood warning for the city on the Oder River, instituting round-the-clock monitoring of dikes, regulation of canals, and shutting down dike crossings, as Sutryk explained in a Facebook video. The flood is predicted to reach Wrocław on Wednesday. Previously forecasts suggesting that Wrocław would escape severe flooding have been revised, Sutryk shared. Although the flood won't reportedly be as high as the 1997 Oder flood that submerged a third of the city, Sutryk pointed out that the infrastructure is now in much better shape with new dikes, retention basins, and polders. He hopes that the city won't be inundated.
10:35 Governor's Update on Flood Condition: "It's Still Critical"Despite a temporary pause in raining, the flood situation in Lower Austria remains dire. "It hasn't ended, it's still critical, it's still intense," asserts the Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner. As much as 80 liters of rain per square meter is projected to fall in certain areas on Monday. The current predicament is the dams. "The threat of dam collapse is significant," officials declare. Public life is largely hampered. Over 200 roads in Lower Austria are closed, 1,800 buildings have been evacuated, many students and kindergarten children are staying home, Mikl-Leitner states. Around 3,500 households are currently without power. The extent of the damage is currently uncertain. "The victims of the flood will undoubtedly be assisted," Mikl-Leitner adds. In Lower Austria, as much as 370 liters of rain per square meter had fallen in recent days - several times the typical monthly rate.
10:10 Rising Elbe River Levels in SaxonyThe Elbe River levels in Saxony continue to climb. According to data from the State Flood Control Center, the value in Dresden reached 5.54 meters early this morning. It's expected that the six-meter mark will be surpassed later today, triggering the highest alarm stage three. At this level, flooding of urban areas is a possibility. The alarm stage three has already been reached at the gauge in Schöna on the Elbe near the Czech border, where the water level was registered at 6.09 meters. The Lausitzer Neiße by the Polish border additionally has an alarm stage three, with the water level at 5.56 meters, barely an inch away from the highest alarm stage four. A section of the federal road B99 had to be shut down in Görlitz for security reasons, a police spokesman confirms. The warning level for stage 3 is 4.80 meters here.
09:49 Catastrophic Flooding in Czech Republic: Man Meets Watery GraveThe first documented death in the Czech floods has occurred. Authorities are also reporting at least seven missing individuals. A man perished in the small river Krasovka in the Bruntal district, part of Moravia-Silesia, according to police president Martin Vondrasek on public radio. Three individuals who were traveling in a car that became submerged in a roaring river near Jesenik in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains are still missing. No trace of the vehicle has been found. The other missing individuals were swept into various waterways such as the Otava River. A resident of a nursing home on the Polish border is also unaccounted for. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala described the situation as a "century flood" - a flood that statistically takes place once in a century at the same location. Earlier, other EU countries had also reported fatalities from flooding (see entry 06:40): A firefighter perished in Austria, a man in Poland, and six individuals in Romania.
09:17 Woman Checks Water Level in Görlitz and Falls InA woman slipped and tumbled into the Neiße while checking the water level near the Parkhotel Merkur in Görlitz. Initial police reports indicate that the woman was swept around 700 meters downstream before she managed to extricate herself near the Vierradmühle weir. She is now receiving treatment in the hospital for hypothermia.
09:00 THW Readies for Major Operations on Elbe and OderThe Technical Relief Agency (THW) is preparing for potential flooding in eastern Germany. "We're preparing to mobilize larger teams to the Elbe and Oder if needed," states THW department head Fritz-Helge Voss in the ZDF "Morning Magazine". Voss recommends that inhabitants in at-risk areas store essential supplies. Voss notes that Germany has been fortunate so far but anticipates that the Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers will flood this week. Over the weekend, the THW deployed around 140 personnel in Bavaria and Saxony, including assistance at the collapsed Carolabridge in Dresden. Voss warns that this is the fourth significant flooding incident in Germany this year, and it's vital to be prepared and invest in equipment. "In essence, these are climate adaptation costs," says Voss.
08:43 Polish authorities address flood disaster situation Following the severe flooding in southwestern Poland, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has convened an emergency cabinet meeting early Monday morning. Morawiecki has drafted a decree declaring a state of disaster, but the cabinet needs to approve it. Persistent downpours have led to flooding in the southwestern Polish region near the Czech border, notably affecting Nysa in the Opole region throughout the night. The Glatzer Neiße river, a tributary of the Oder, inundated the emergency room of the local hospital as reported by the PAP news agency, forcing a evacuation of 33 patients, including children and pregnant women.
08:15 Bavaria faces further rain and heightened water levels The flood situation in Bavaria remains precarious in certain areas, with additional rain predicted. Despite no significant improvement observed in affected regions overnight, police headquarters affirmed that there's no all-clear yet, as the High Water Information Service (HND) forecasts another rise in water levels with the rain-filled start to the week. The HND anticipates a surge in water levels for the Danube at Passau, the Vils at Vilshofen, and the Isar at Munich. The situation is expected to gradually ease from Wednesday. Until Tuesday, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) forecasts continuous rain from the Alps to the plain. Substantial rainfall of 40 to 70 liters per square meter is likely, with up to 90 liters in sedentary regions.
07:32 Czech Republic continues to suffer: Water levels escalate No respite is in sight for flood-stricken and inundated areas in the Czech Republic, where the Morava River's flood wave has reached Litovel, approximately 200 kilometers east of Prague. The city with a population of nearly 10,000 was submerged, reported the CTK news agency. Local authorities issued an appeal to the public to avoid impeding emergency services. "In the subsequent hours, we anticipate a further boost in the Morava River's water level," warned the mayor via social media.
07:03 Dam collapse in Poland: Fears of escalating flooding Villagers in Poland's Glatzer Neiße region braced for the worst as the destructive floods close in, in the wake of a dam rupturing. Footage captured the intensity of the raging waters.
06:40 European flood tragedy: Casualties in Poland and Romania Poland, the Czech Republic, and Lower Austria are grappling with the aftermath of a once-in-a-century flooding, while the situation in Romania is also critical following torrential rainfall. Various fatalities have been reported across European Union countries due to flooding: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six individuals in Romania.
06:12 Czech Republic evacuations prompted by floods Overwhelming storms swamped entire Czech towns like Jeseník in the Beskids and Krnov on the Polish border. Emergency services had to rescue several people by boat and helicopter in Jeseník. Post-flood, the risk of landslides loomed large in numerous locations.
05:49 Cruise ship passengers trapped by Vienna flooding Heavy rain on the Danube has left dozens of passengers stuck on a Swiss river cruise ship in Vienna. Over 100 passengers and 40 crew members aboard the "Thurgau Prestige" are currently prevented from disembarking due to flooded gangways, as reported by Swiss broadcaster SRF via Thurgau Travel. The passengers are unable to leave the ship while the pier is inundated. Additional ships are also reportedly stranded in Vienna. The local authorities will decide upon the passengers' departure, while passengers may be obligated to remain aboard until at least Tuesday. The "Thurgau Prestige" intended to voyage from Linz to Budapest and back, but now finds itself trapped in Vienna.
Storm "Anett", internationally recognized as "Boris", wreaked havoc with biblical levels of rain and flooding in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania, resulting in at least eight confirmed fatalities.
Sentence 1: The flood disaster in several European countries has prompted calls for increased action on climate protection, with Green Party Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck urging faster expansion of renewables and climate-friendly production.
Sentence 2: The devastating flood situations in Central and Eastern Europe, exacerbated by the climate crisis, highlight the need for immediate action and preparation, as suggested by Green Party leader Ricarda Lang.
