The death toll in Central Europe has tragically risen as more rivers have burst their banks due to heavy rainfall. Romania, Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic have all reported casualties from the severe flooding. In Poland, a reservoir overflowed and threatened nearby villages, leading to evacuations. Meanwhile, cities like Wroclaw in Poland and Bratislava in Slovakia are preparing for rising water levels. The Hungarian capital Budapest is also on alert for potential flooding. European leaders have been addressing the situation, with Austria’s chancellor announcing a disaster fund of 300 million euros to aid in recovery efforts.
In response to the floods, Poland has declared a 30-day state of natural disaster to enhance response efforts. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala has described the situation in southern Bohemia as particularly challenging, while asks have been made for residents in Ostrava to avoid coming to the city. The European Parliament’s Green group stressed the importance of collective action against climate change in the wake of the floods, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the face of such natural disasters.
Other extreme weather events have also been reported globally, from devastating floods in Africa to the displacement of thousands in Southeast Asia due to Typhoon Yagi. Experts point to human-caused climate breakdown as a key factor contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. The supercharging of natural disasters, like floods and heatwaves, highlights the urgent need for global action to address climate change.
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