Summary of the day
The death toll in Central Europe rose to at least 15 due to heavy rain and flooding over the past days.
While water was receding in some areas, others were shoring up defences.
Poland introduced a 30-day “state of natural disaster”.
Austria’s chancellor, Karl Nehammer, said that “in difficult times, we are grateful for the friendship and solidarity of our neighbours and friends.”
The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, has said that the country set aside 1 billion zlotys ($260.31 million) to help victims of floods.
The Czech prime minister, Petr Fiala, said that the situation is difficult.
Hungary’s Viktor Orbán said he was postponing “all my international obligations” due to the floods.
Factories in the region shuttered production lines.
The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said that “we need a united and decisive European response to adapt to the escalating challenges of the climate crisis.”
Climate scientists said they are troubled by the damage but unsurprised by the intensity. “The catastrophic rainfall hitting central Europe is exactly what scientists expect with climate change,” said Joyce Kimutai, of Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute.
Meanwhile, the EU is mobilising firefighting planes to help Portugal battle wildfires.
The EU stands with Portugal as it battles major wildfires.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 16, 2024
We are urgently mobilising 8 firefighting planes via our Civil Protection Mechanism to help local first responders.
I thank France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their rapid reaction.
This is EU solidarity at its best.
