WARSAW, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- Central Europe is grappling with its worst flooding in at least two decades, primarily due to Storm Boris. The floods have wreaked havoc across several countries, with Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic among the hardest hit.
So far, 26 fatalities have been reported across the region. Poland estimates that damages could reach 9 billion U.S. dollars, roughly one percent of the country's economic output. The Polish roads and motorways authority reported that damages to roads, bridges, and flyovers have totaled 1.1 billion U.S. dollars.
In addition, a report by Santander Bank warned of potential inflationary effects if disruptions to agricultural markets and supply chains persist.
In Lower Austria, floods have prompted evacuations in several villages. A dam failure in Sankt Polten caused severe damage to the sewer system, leaving 1,500 people without proper sewage services. The disaster has resulted in the deaths of five individuals in Lower Austria, including a firefighter.
In the Czech Republic, flooding began on Sept. 13. Thousands were evacuated, and the city of Ostrava was heavily affected. Between Sept. 15 and 16, four individuals died in the Moravian-Silesian Region, with fatalities reported in areas such as Krnov and Kobyla nad Vidnavkou.
Romania reported seven deaths due to flooding, with several villages, including Slobozia Conachi and Cudalbi, submerged under several feet of water. Streets turned into rivers, causing widespread devastation.
In response, Poland's finance minister announced the allocation of 5.6 billion U.S. dollars from EU funds to aid recovery efforts. The Czech Republic also committed to allocating 30 billion crowns (about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars), or 0.4 percent of its GDP, to address flood damages, marking a 25-percent increase from initial estimates.
During the storm, Poland experienced the most rainfall, with some regions receiving up to 400 mm in just three days. The floods resulted in 10 fatalities, displaced thousands, and left approximately 50,000 to 70,000 residents without electricity.
According to the latest update from the Polish Ministry of National Defense, over 26,000 soldiers have been mobilized to assist with flood relief efforts across various regions in Poland. The mission, dubbed "Operation Phoenix," aims to support emergency and recovery operations and is scheduled to continue until the end of the year, with the possibility of extension if needed.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declared a state of natural disaster in flood-hit regions on Sept. 18. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, along with other Central European leaders, arrived in Wroclaw to assess the damages.
Von der Leyen expressed her sympathy for the flood-stricken regions, calling the devastation "heartbreaking."
On Sept. 19, she announced a 10-billion-euro (11 billion U.S. dollars) fund to support EU member states affected by the floods caused by Storm Boris.
The aid is expected to be mobilized through cohesion funds as part of the emergency response to support recovery efforts across the affected areas.
