Europe floods: death toll rises – latest updates

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Bibi van der Zee

The floods in Europe are just one of a number of extreme weather events around the world in the last few days.

Floods have also been devastating western and central Africa, with hundreds estimated to have died. Meanwhile in Southeast Asia Typhoon Yagi has been causing havoc, with at least 300,000 people displaced in Myanmar following heavy rains.

Although these specific events cannot be definitively attributed to climate change, it’s well established now that extreme rainfall is more common and more intense because of human-caused climate breakdown across most of the world, particularly in Europe, most of Asia, central and eastern North America, and parts of South America, Africa and Australia. This is because warmer air can hold more water vapour.

Flooding has most likely become more frequent and severe in these locations as a result, but is also affected by human factors, such as the existence of flood defences and land use.

Human-caused climate breakdown is supercharging extreme weather across the world, driving more frequent and more deadly disasters from heatwaves to floods to wildfires.

At least a dozen of the most serious events of the last decade would have been all but impossible without human-caused global heating.

Updated at 05.51 EDT

Watch footage from Central Europe, which has been hit with torrential rain and flooding.

Torrential rain and flooding hits central and eastern Europe – video reportShare

Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who was scheduled to speak at the European parliament this week, said he is postponing “all my international obligations” due to the ongoing floods.

Due to the extreme weather conditions and the ongoing floods in Hungary, I have postponed all my international obligations.

— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) September 16, 2024

Two more people died in Austria, the chancellor, Karl Nehammer, said.

In Niederösterreich haben Unwetter und Hochwasser zwei weitere Todesopfer gefordert. Wir trauern mit den Familien und Angehörigen! https://t.co/K8Gw02Gkhu

— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) September 16, 2024

Factories and stores across central Europe shuttered production lines and closed their doors today due to flooding, Reuters reported.

Residents look at the damage done by recent floods in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Photograph: Petr David Josek/APShare

Late yesterday, the Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, reiterated his call for people to follow instructions from mayors and emergency services.

Proběhlo další zasedaní Ústředního krizového štábu. Ještě, než se dostanu ke shrnutí jeho průběhu, musím znova všechny požádat, aby se řídili pokyny starostů, hasičů a dalších složek IZS. Nekomplikujme, prosím, práci těm, kteří pracují na záchraně životů i majetku.

➡️ K 19.… pic.twitter.com/rjuVboZBLR

— Petr Fiala (@P_Fiala) September 15, 2024

Karl Nehammer, the Austrian chancellor, has said that the Austrian armed forces have been deployed in storm-hit regions and that 2,400 soldiers are on standby to help fill sandbags, evacuate people or do clean-up work.

Das Österreichische Bundesheer steht in den Unwetterregionen überall im Einsatz, wo Hilfe gebraucht wird. 2.400 Soldaten stehen bereit und helfen, Sandsäcke zu befüllen, Menschen zu evakuieren oder Aufräumarbeiten zu leisten. pic.twitter.com/KAfCcNRapm

— Karl Nehammer (@karlnehammer) September 16, 2024Share

Updated at 03.46 EDT

Here are some images of the flooding in Poland.

An aerial picture taken with a drone shows flooded Klodzko, southwestern Poland, 15 September 2024. Photograph: Maciej Kulczyński/EPADamages on flooded streets after heavy rainfalls in Glucholazy, southwestern Poland, 15 September 2024. Photograph: Michal Meissner/EPAShare

The Hungarian defence forces are deploying equipment to support flood protection efforts.

🚜 Amphibious tracked vehicles are en route from Szentes to Pilismarót to support flood defense efforts, announced Defense Minister @SzBobrovniczky on his Facebook page Monday.

💪 The Hungarian Defence Forces are playing a key role in the flood protection efforts, deploying… pic.twitter.com/4dlKFdHydq

— Zoltan Kovacs (@zoltanspox) September 16, 2024

One dead, seven missing in Czech Republic: police

Czech police has said that one person died and seven are missing amid flooding, AFP reported.

A resident waits to be evacuated from his flooded house in Jesenik, Czech Republic, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024. Photograph: Petr David Josek/APShare

Death toll rises amid widespread flooding in central Europe

The death toll rose in central Europe over the weekend after severe flooding impacted the region, the Associated Press reported.

Six people died in Romania, one person in Austria and one person in Poland, while police in the Czech Republic said four people were missing.

People gathered to watch the flood-wave peak after heavy rainfall raised the level of the Vistula River in Krakow, Poland on 15 September, 2024. Photograph: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/REX/ShutterstockShare