Death toll rises as floods devastate central Europe

The death toll across central Europe from the worst flooding in decades has risen to at least 16 after Storm Boris brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours.

- RACHEL HAGAN

Tens of thousands of people have had to flee their homes and more rainfall is expected in the coming days with surging river levels putting authorities on high alert. Residents are bracing themselves for more disruption and danger.

Eight deaths were recorded over the weekend in Poland, Romania and Austria, where a firefighter was killed during a flood rescue operation.

A further seven deaths have since been recorded with four of those in Poland. One person drowned in the Czech Republic, and in Austria two people aged 70 and 80 died in the northeast of the country.

Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk declared a 30-day “state of natural disaster” yesterday “to improve the efficiency of services and combat the effects of the flood”. It covers parts of the Lower Silesian, Opole, and Silesian voivodeships.