Low pressure Boris hit central Europe

16.09.2024

Low pressure Boris brought torrential rains to Central Europe and caused widespread flooding in many places. Heavy rainfall and strong winds afflict the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Austria and part of Germany. To date the pressure rampage below Boris has already claimed seventeen lives.

Photo:Pixabay

In Poland the rains were so heavy that one of the dam reservoirs burst. Shortly after that Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced emergency aid in the amount of one billion zlotys which will be intended for everyone in the worst-hit areas. The army was also called in to help with the floods in Poland which also participates in the evacuation of residents.

Low pressure Boris brought heavy rainfall to the Czech Republic as well. In some places up to 500 millimeters of rain fell in a few days. Several cities have been flooded and dozens of rivers are at a high level of flood activity. During the weekend around 260,000 collection points were without electricity. As a result of strong gusty winds that blew throughout the weekend mature trees were also uprooted. The soil is completely saturated and now the water from the mountain areas fills large streams.

Precipitation. brought by the low pressure Boris were so abundant that they filled even the second largest river in Europe the Danube. At the moment the water has already risen to 960 cm and should soon culminate. Anti-flood barriers were also built in Bratislava which have already proven themselves in the past when the water level reached ten meters. As in the Czech Republic strong winds caused widespread damage in Slovakia. Firefighters remove hundreds of broken or uprooted trees from forest parks.

In the following days the situation should improve and the precipitation should subside. The damage has not yet been calculated but it is certain that it will be in the order of tens of billions of Euros. Scientists warn that extreme rainfall should be expected in the future as well. Europe is warming the fastest of all continents and will continue to be increasingly affected by severe natural disasters in the future such as long-lasting heat waves strong storms, fires or floods.

Source:CNN/Editorial