Seven dead as 'catastrophic' Storm Boris floods Europe

Month’s worth of rain in 24 hours hits several countries

- SHWETA SHARMA

At least seven people have died, thousands have been evacuated and many remained stranded yesterday after Storm Boris brought record rains and flash flooding to parts of central and eastern Europe.

Heavy rainfall began lashing central Europe on Friday as the slow-moving low-pressure system arrived, and it is expected to linger for days. Storm Boris has brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours to swathes of Poland, Romania, Austria, the Czech Republic and Hungary, along with fierce winds.

Four bodies, three women and one man, were recovered from Romania. It was the hardest-hit country, with flooding affecting 19 localities across eight counties. Strong winds downed dozens of trees, damaging cars and blocking roads and traffic.

The southeastern region of Galati, a county in Romania, was especially badly hit, with at least 700 homes flooded and hundreds of people left stranded, according to Emil Dragomir, the mayor of Slobozia Conachi village in the county. “This is a catastrophe of epic proportions,” Mr Dragomir said.