Several dead after floods

 

Romania
Several dead after floods in Eastern Europe: "A tough weekend ahead"

Martin Palmborg,

TT

Published 16.20

I Prag sätter räddningstjänsten upp skyddsvallar. Foto: Petr David Josek / AP

In Prague, the emergency services set up protective barriers. Photo: Petr David Josek / AP

Several Eastern European countries have been hit by heavy floods and at least four people have died in Romania.

Now more rain is expected in the coming days.

- A tough weekend is ahead of us, says Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala.

Water levels have risen rapidly in the Elbe and Vltava rivers in the Czech Republic following recent heavy rain. This has led to the emergency services in Prague setting up protective barriers as a preventive measure.

- We must be ready for the worst, says Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala after the government's crisis committee met.

At the same time, the weather forecast is worrying. Some areas in the Czech Republic and Poland may receive up to 400 millimeters of rain in the coming days.
Tjeckien efter den senaste tidens kraftiga regn. Det har lett till att räddningstjänsten i Prag satt upp skyddsvallar i förebyggande syfte.

Firefighters rescue a dog from the floods in Romania. Photo: AP

Several countries are on high alert

In Romania, at least four people have died as a result of the floods, according to the country's emergency services, according to AP.

Pictures from the affected areas show muddy water and debris pouring out along the streets, while emergency workers help residents in need. In the city of Galati, around 5,000 households have been affected.

The authorities in Slovakia, Hungary, southern Germany and parts of Austria have also gone on high alert, writes Reuters.

The rescue service carries a woman away from the water in Romania. Photo: AP

"Really fighting against the clock"

According to the German news agency DPA, water levels in the river Elbe are at risk of rising sharply.

- We are really fighting against the clock here, says Michael Klahre, spokesperson for the rescue service in Dresden, at a press conference.

According to Eigil Kaas, professor at the University of Copenhagen, the rain is due to the increasingly warm climate in Europe. The ongoing low pressure is a consequence of strong fluctuations between warm and cold temperatures.

- Since the 20th century, the temperature in Europe has risen by two degrees, and this means that the atmosphere can contain up to 15 percent more water, he tells the Danish news agency Ritzau.