Many villages have already been evacuated in the Czech Republic and Poland. Experts have also warned of flooding in Germany – with areas in southern and eastern Germany affected.
In the Czech Republic, in the eastern administrative region of Moravia-Silesia, authorities estimate that hundreds or thousands of people may have to be evacuated from their homes. A dangerous situation has been declared there and in the surrounding area of Olomouc (Olomouc). Even small streams were raging. In some places people had to be brought to safety by boat. Pictures show streets flooded with floating cars. The army was ready to help.
Czech Republic: Hospital evacuated due to flooding
The Czech Republic was also hit by torrential rain and flooding on Saturday. A hospital in Brno has been evacuated due to the risk of flooding. About 180 patients were shifted to other hospitals.
A clinic also had to be evacuated due to flooding. More than 180 patients from the Brothers of Mercy Hospital in Brno will be gradually transferred to other facilities, the clinic’s management announced.
In Slovakia, emergency services have been preparing for flooding in March since Friday. In Hungary, emergency services are also preparing for possible flooding.
Reservoirs in Poland are at risk of overflowing
In southwestern Poland, rivers are overflowing due to persistent rain. Since Friday morning, there has been more rain than the 1997 “Millennium Flood.” The Institute of Meteorology (IMGW) reported that 161.5 millimeters were recorded in 24 hours in Jarnoldovec in the Silesian Opole region. This is 30 millimeters higher than the previous record value measured in 1997, the year of the Oder flood. Warning levels were exceeded at 47 water level measuring stations across the country.
The mayor of Jarnoltowek ordered the evacuation of residents whose houses are located below a reservoir. This created a risk of overflow.
Residents of two neighboring villages located on the Zloty Potok River were also urged to seek shelter. “The situation is very serious, in a matter of minutes. We really have little time,” Mayor Gregors Zawisław told Polish news website Onet.
Sandbags for Krakow residents
Krakow, Poland’s second largest city, is also inundated after heavy rains. Residents who want to protect their buildings themselves can pick up sandbags at 28 locations in the city, the municipality wrote. Trams and buses had to be temporarily diverted. In the afternoon, the municipal administration informed that the problems were resolved.
Elbe also floods
There is also a risk of flooding in individual regions of Germany. By late afternoon, alert level 1 (four meters) had already been exceeded at Schöna an der Elbe in Saxony. Only then the water expands and the situation is constantly monitored.
According to current forecasts, it is expected in Dresden on Sunday morning. Emergency services are currently working hard on the partially collapsed Corolla Bridge. Flooding is expected to peak on Thursday, after which water levels are expected to recede. As for Raisa, Elbe’s rise is expected to be in the range of the Alert Level 3 guidance. This is not out of the question for Dorca either.
Continued rains east of the Elbe and Spree are also flooding rivers in eastern Saxony.
The old town of Bassa is partially closed
In the south and southeast of Bavaria, large numbers of people filled sandbags after hours of rain as there was a risk of flooding from rivers or rising groundwater. In some places, rail links have been cancelled, tunnels closed and fields flooded.
In Bassa, parts of the old city will be closed in the evening as a precaution. In the higher reaches of the Alps, winter tires and snow shovels are required – all by mid-September.
According to the Flood Investigation Service (HND), most of the rain reported for the weekend in Bavaria has already fallen. However, the water level will continue to rise.
Four people died in Romania
4 people have already died due to floods in Romania. Rescue services said on Saturday that “four people were found dead” in the Galati region of southeastern Romania. According to the rescue service, a total of 19 places in the country were flooded. Dozens of people had to be rescued. Video from rescuers showed dozens of houses on the banks of the Danube under water.
