Floods in Romania Claim at Least Four Lives as Rain Hits Central Europe, Reports Reuters

By Luiza Ilie and Radovan Stoklasa

VISNOVA, Czech Republic – At least four people have lost their lives, and thousands of homes have sustained damage due to flooding in eastern Romania, as rising river levels prompted alerts across much of central and eastern Europe following days of heavy rain.

Tens of thousands of households in Romania and the Czech Republic have been left without electricity, with additional rainfall predicted in the coming days. Other regions including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany, and parts of Austria are also anticipated to experience significant rainfall.

Residents in some towns near the Czech-Polish border have been evacuated as river levels surpassed alert thresholds. In Prague, which faced catastrophic flooding in 2002, preventive anti-flood measures were implemented.

In Romania, the flooding has impacted eight counties, according to the country’s emergency unit. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu visited the severely affected Galati county, where the four fatalities were reported, approximately 5,000 homes were damaged, and around 25,000 residents lost power.

Images from the area depicted streets inundated with muddy water, silt, and debris as rescuers assisted residents to safety. “The priority is obviously to save lives. At this moment we have all the necessary logistics to intervene quickly,” Ciolacu stated.

In the Czech Republic, the northern and northeastern regions faced the most severe effects of the downpour, with 51,000 households experiencing power outages. Forecasters warned that some areas could receive rainfall exceeding a third of the average annual amount by the end of the weekend. Environment Minister Petr Hladik urged residents in the most affected locations to be ready for evacuation.

In Visnova, located 140 km north of Prague, resident Roman Christof noted that his cottage was spared from damage due to its higher elevation, remarking about the misfortune of his neighbors as he observed the floodwaters.

Prague, a city of over 1.3 million situated along the Vltava River, has implemented flood barriers. Following the devastating floods of 2002, significant investments were made in preventive infrastructure.

Prague Zoo, adjacent to the river, was closed to the public, and interruptions to services were reported by Czech Railways. In Brno, the country’s second-largest city, a hospital evacuated patients as a precaution.

Authorities warned of a “critical night” ahead, with Polish Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak indicating that the weather forecast was concerning, predicting heavy rainfall in the area near the Czech border.

“We are facing a critical night, full mobilization is required,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Officials in Slovakia cautioned about potential flooding in the capital, Bratislava, due to the swollen Danube River, while Hungary expected the river’s levels to approach record highs.

In Austria, emergency services collaborated with local governments to prepare for possible evacuations. Chancellor Karl Nehammer noted that all federal states are affected and expressed concerns about the deteriorating situation, especially in the northeastern state of Lower Austria. “The coming days will still be extremely difficult and challenging for the affected population and the emergency services,” he commented.