Storm Boris ravages Central and Eastern Europe

Storm Boris has ravaged central and eastern Europe, leaving at least 10 dead and forcing thousands from their homes as floodwaters engulf towns and villages across the region. 

Torrential rains, fierce winds, and overflowing rivers have turned streets into rivers, destroyed infrastructure, and overwhelmed emergency services in Austria, Poland, Czechia, Romania and Slovakia.

In Austria a firefighter lost his life in the northeastern region while trying to save residents from rising waters. Lower Austria has been declared a natural disaster zone, with authorities warning that conditions could worsen. 

Parts of Vienna have been paralyzed as the Wien River teeters on the edge of overflowing. Rail services were suspended, and emergency services reported making nearly 5,000 interventions overnight to rescue those trapped by the floods and clear debris from storm-damaged roads.

Poland is also reeling, with the southwestern Klodzko region particularly hard hit. One person drowned, and 1,600 people have been evacuated from their homes. 

The Polish government has deployed the army to assist local emergency services, while roads have been washed away, and the border crossing with Czechia has been shut down after a river breached its banks. In the village of Glucholazy, residents watched with fear as floodwaters surged through their streets. 

"Water is the most powerful force of nature. Everyone is scared," Zofia Owsiaka, 65, told reporters.

Czechia faces a similarly grim reality. Four people are missing after being swept away by floodwaters in the northeast and southeast of the country. A dam burst in the south, sending torrents of water into towns downstream, while nearly 50,000 homes remain without electricity. 

The government has declared a state of emergency as firefighters battle to protect towns and cities from further damage. In the Czech capital, Prague, officials have erected flood barriers to shield the historic city center from the rising Vltava River. 

"We are taking all necessary measures to prevent another disaster," said Prime Minister Petr Fiala, referencing the catastrophic flooding that hit the city in 2002.

Romania has been one of the worst-hit countries, with four people dead in the southeastern Galati region, where 5,000 homes were destroyed. The situation is being described as a "catastrophe of epic proportions." 

Emergency services have been working to rescue residents stranded by the floods, while hundreds have been evacuated to safer ground. 

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, visiting the worst-affected areas, blamed the disaster on climate change. 

"We are again facing the effects of climate change, which are increasingly present on the European continent, with dramatic consequences," Iohannis said. 

His comments highlight growing concerns that Europe's infrastructure may not be prepared for the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.

In Slovakia, the government has declared a state of emergency in Bratislava, where the Morava River threatens to overflow and flood the capital. The government is preparing for the possibility of artificially spilling excess water into non-populated areas to mitigate damage. 

Meanwhile, Slovak authorities are racing to protect critical infrastructure as rains show no sign of letting up.

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