In response to severe flooding in Central Europe caused by record rainfall from a low-pressure system, soldiers and volunteers in southwestern Poland have been working to protect homes and businesses by placing sandbags near swollen rivers in the region of Wroclaw. The flooding has impacted several countries in the region including Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, resulting in a total of 23 reported deaths so far, with the highest tolls in Poland and Romania.
The European Union’s head office has linked the recent floods in Central Europe and deadly wildfires in Portugal as evidence of a “climate breakdown,” emphasizing the need for urgent action to address the growing environmental challenges. In the Czech Republic, the discovery of the body of a 70-year-old woman who was swept away by floodwaters added to the death toll, which now stands at four in the country.
Although the weather has improved with warm and sunny conditions in the affected areas, some regions are still facing threats from flooding. Firefighters in Poland have been working to pump water out of flooded streets and basements, while in Romania, around 1,000 firefighters have been assisting in cleaning up severely affected areas across the country.
In Marcinkowice near Wroclaw, soldiers and residents have been busy laying sandbags near the Olawa River as a precaution. The community leader of Olawa, Artur Piotrowski, described the situation as challenging, mentioning that two villages in a low-lying area have been flooded since Monday, with residents refusing to evacuate. Polish soldiers have been actively involved in various tasks, from evacuating people and animals to distributing food and setting up field hospitals in affected areas. In cities like Opole and Wroclaw, where the Oder River is expected to crest, experts have been preparing for potential flood threats, recalling the disastrous flooding that Wroclaw experienced in 1997.
