Central Europe faced a devastating flood crisis this week, with heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow and claiming at least 18 lives.
The Polish town of Nysa was particularly hard hit, with volunteers working tirelessly to fortify floodwalls and stem the rising waters.
In the Czech Republic, rivers continued to breach their banks, while the Danube posed a growing threat in Slovakia and Hungary. Austria also experienced significant flooding. The Czech-Polish border region bore the brunt of the damage, with debris-filled rivers ravaging towns, destroying bridges, and collapsing homes.
Poland declared a state of disaster and allocated 1 billion zlotys ($260.38 million) to aid flood victims. Overnight in Nysa, residents and volunteers worked together to reinforce the breached embankment, using sandbags to protect the town.
Many residents had to evacuate their homes, including Sabina Jakubowska, who described the situation: "Even though we have several floors, we had to escape. Now, it seems calmer, but the water is still there on our street."
Polish authorities, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk, were closely monitoring the situation. In Wroclaw, the historic city of 600,000 residents, preparations were underway to combat rising water levels along the Odra river. The zoo called for volunteers to help protect its grounds, while authorities filled a reservoir to mitigate flooding risks.
The flooding caused significant damage and loss of life across the region. Romania reported seven deaths, while Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic each experienced multiple fatalities. Tens of thousands of households were left without power in both the Czech Republic and Poland.
In the Czech city of Ostrava, a broken barrier on the Odra led to flooding in the industrial area, affecting major chemical and coking plants. Hungary's historic towns of Visegrad and Szentendre were also at risk due to rising Danube levels. Budapest, bracing for record-high water levels, closed Margaret Island, a popular tourist destination.
The flood disaster highlighted the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events and the importance of preparedness and coordinated response efforts.