At least four people have died and thousands of homes have been damaged by flooding in eastern Romania, caused by days of torrential rain. The flooding has also left tens of thousands of households without power in Romania and the Czech Republic, with more rainfall expected in the coming days in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany, and parts of Austria.
Residents of some towns along the Czech-Polish border have been evacuated as rivers rise past alert levels, while the Czech capital, Prague, has implemented preventative anti-flood measures. In Romania, flooding has affected eight counties, with thousands of homes damaged and many without power. Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu has visited the hard-hit Galati county where four people were found dead.
In the Czech Republic, northern and northeastern areas have experienced the worst of the flooding, with over 50,000 households losing electricity supply. Forecasters have warned of more heavy rainfall, with residents in some areas bracing for significant amounts of precipitation. Flood barriers have been put up in Prague, where preventative measures were implemented following catastrophic floods in 2002.
Various other countries in central and eastern Europe, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria, are also facing the threat of flooding. Officials are mobilizing emergency services and issuing warnings to residents as they prepare for potentially record-high water levels in rivers. The coming days are expected to be extremely difficult and challenging for those affected by the floods.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com