Heavy flooding in central Europe has countries seek EU aid, funds

Torrential rains have severely impacted central European countries in the past few days, with Czechia confirming it will use EU funds and Poland announcing it will seek EU financial assistance and possibly activate the EU's emergency mechanism.

Central European countries, including Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Austria, and Romania, have been severely affected by torrential rainfall in recent days, leading to widespread flooding, evacuations, and extensive damage to infrastructure and homes.

“I have instructed the finance minister to prepare funds for emergency aid and flood relief. The EU Minister will apply for European aid,”  Tusk wrote on X on Sunday afternoon, adding that he had asked the defence minister to send additional forces to the affected areas.

The southern part of the country is currently battling massive flooding following heavy rainfall over the weekend. Several dams burst on Sunday, including in the town of Nysa and the municipality of Stronie Śląskie. Helicopters were used for rescue operations, evacuating residents in critical situations.

Several rivers, including the Oder and the Nysa, have overflowed their banks, causing severe flooding in the region. The flood wave was heading towards the city of Wroclaw on Sunday, prompting local authorities to issue warnings and prepare for possible damage.

Emergency services are on high alert as rising water levels threaten homes and infrastructure, and efforts are underway to mitigate damage and protect residents. Military helicopters have been used in rescue operations to evacuate people in critical condition.

The first person to die in the floods was in the town of Kłodzko, Tusk confirmed on Sunday morning. Private radio station RMF FM reported another possible victim in Bielsko-Biała in Silesia.

Asked to compare the situation with the massive floods of 1997, Tusk said this flood was more localised, though he said this did not mean the consequences were less serious. “People say that in many places, what they are experiencing is more serious than in 1997,” he stressed.

On the contrary, the situation on the Vistula, the country’s main river, is relatively stable, with the river level in Warsaw reaching its lowest level ever recorded in recent days, as low as 20 centimetres in some areas.

EU may help with managing the floods

As the heavy rains and floods hit several EU countries, they may request the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

Created in 2001, the Mechanism aims to strengthen cooperation on civil protection between the EU countries and 10 participating countries to improve prevention, preparedness, and response to disasters. It has already responded to over 700 requests for assistance inside and outside the EU.

Following a request for assistance through the Mechanism, the Emergency Response Coordination Centre (ERCC) mobilises assistance or expertise. Specialist teams and equipment, such as fire-fighting aircraft, search and rescue and medical teams, can be mobilised at short notice for deployments.

Tusk did not clarify whether he intends to ask for the mechanism to be activated, but Euractiv understands that his post on X may have suggested this.

Czechia has also been badly hit by flooding, with the north-eastern region facing the worst conditions.

Vladimír Vlček, head of the Czech Fire Rescue Service, reported that more than 10,500 people had been evacuated across the country, and as of Sunday, some 250,000 households were without power.

In anticipation of heavy rainfall over the weekend, local authorities began releasing water from dams to create more capacity, while in recent years, major investments have been made in flood control measures following previous flood disasters.

“We are far better prepared now than we were in 1997 or 2002; the entire country has learned from those experiences. And it is clear that those lessons have paid off. However, this is an exceptional situation, and not everything can be foreseen or planned for,” Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS, ECR) said in an interview with Czech Television on Sunday.

“I assume we will use all available resources, including European funds. It is logical, and it is the right thing to do," Fiala added.

As the country prepares for regional and senatorial elections this weekend (20-21 September), the government is working to ensure the polls go ahead as planned. But the final decision will depend on how the situation develops.

"At the moment, it seems that we should be able to hold the elections on time, but this is a cautious statement as there are factors beyond our control, such as the weather," Fiala said.

In Slovakia, rainfall in the northern and western parts of the country exceeded meteorologists' estimates. Several cities and towns declared a level 3 flood warning overnight and are preparing residents for possible evacuation. Railway services have been suspended on several lines.

The most critical situation is in the western region of Záhorie, near the Czech and Austrian borders. In the capital, Bratislava, strong winds uprooted trees, and several roads had to be closed. Animals at the local zoo have been evacuated.

The Slovak Education Ministry advised schools to consider suspending classes on Monday, while the Labour Ministry announced financial and humanitarian aid for citizens and towns affected by the floods. At the same time, fundraising campaigns were launched by the Donio portal, the Slovak Catholic Charity and People in Peril.

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl, Natália Silenská | Euractiv.sk, Aneta Zachová | Euractiv.cz)