Still nice weather on Wednesday, a few showers on Friday (17-09-24)

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Central Europe faces more deadly floods, Poland declares disaster

STORY: They burst their banks, swamping cities – more rivers in Central Europe are struggling to cope with a deadly deluge of heavy rain in the worst flooding in at least two decades. And on Monday, Poland’s government declared a disaster in the affected areas and said it had set aside $260 million to help victims. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said his country and others affected would seek financial help from the European Union. The southern Polish city of Klodzko continued to be inundated with water on Monday after border areas between the Czech Republic and Poland were hit hard over the weekend. Rising water levels caused several bridges to collapse, forcing evacuations and leaving a trail of destruction. And in Nysa, swollen rivers forced a hospital to evacuate its patients, including pregnant women and the elderly, in rafts. The country’s education minister said 420 schools in four provinces had been closed. Water levels in some parts of Poland were not expected to peak until Wednesday. Thousands of people have been evacuated in the Czech Republic and the city of Jesenik as floodwaters swept through the city on Sunday, destroying vehicles, roads and homes. Some residents have begun to clean up after water levels began to recede. This man saw water as high as two metres rushing down the street. He says his house may have to be demolished and his phone lines are down. Water and electricity are also out. The effects are also devastating in eastern Romania, as towns and villages are flooded. Countries along the Danube, including Slovakia and Hungary, also kept watch as water levels were expected to rise. Budapest said 12,000 soldiers were on standby to respond. In Austria, rivers and reservoirs receded overnight as the rain eased, but authorities were bracing for a second wave as heavier rainfall was expected.