Central European international locations which have suffered monumental injury to infrastructure and housing throughout an enormous flooding that has up to now claimed 24 lives within the area will get billions of euros in swift assist, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen introduced Thursday.
Von der Leyen paid a fast go to to a flood-damaged space in southeastern Poland and met with heads of the governments of the affected international locations – Poland, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
“It was for me, on the one hand, heartbreaking to see the destruction and the devastation through the floods,” she informed a news convention within the metropolis of Wroclaw, standing alongside leaders of the affected international locations.
“But I must also say it was on the other hand heartwarming to see the enormous solidarity between the people in your countries,” she added.
Von der Leyen mentioned funds will likely be shortly obtainable for restore from the EU’s solidarity fund, in addition to 10 billion euros ($11 billion) from what is named the cohesion fund – for essentially the most pressing repairs.
No contribution from particular person bloc international locations could be required for the cash to be launched, von der Leyen mentioned and harassed that on this disaster, swift motion was required.
“I am here to reassure you that Europe stands by your side,” she mentioned. “This is a moment of need, of… natural disaster and we have all to stand together to overcome the challenge.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed personal broadcaster Polsat News that Poland may get 5 billion euros.
“What we need now is to quickly build, repair infrastructure, it will cost huge amounts of money, it would be tough to handle it from national budgets,” mentioned Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, including he was grateful for von der Leyen’s concrete proposals for assist.
Czech Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura mentioned earlier on Thursday that the federal government would offer 30 billion crowns ($1.3 billion), about 0.38% of GDP, in a 2024 finances modification and earmark 10 billion crowns extra within the 2025 finances to assist with flood injury.
Meanwhile, an enormous flood wave threatened new areas and heavy rains additionally precipitated flooding and evacuation of some 1,000 individuals within the northern Italian area of Emilia-Romagna.
In Central Europe, the receding waters revealed the dimensions of the destruction attributable to exceptionally heavy rains that started per week in the past.
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan mentioned another individual was reported killed on Thursday within the nation’s hard-hit northeast, bringing the loss of life toll there to 5.
There had been additionally seven deaths every in Poland and Romania, and 5 in Austria – with the general loss of life toll within the affected international locations now at 24.
Authorities deployed troops to assist.
In the northeastern Czech Republic, troopers joined firefighters and different emergency crews to assist with the restoration efforts. Army helicopters distributed humanitarian assist whereas troopers had been constructing momentary bridges instead of those who had been swept away.
Some 400 individuals remained evacuated from their houses within the regional capital of Ostrava. In the southwest, the water stage of the Luznice River reached an excessive stage however the evacuation of 1,000 individuals within the city of Veseli nad Luznici was not essential for the second, officers mentioned.
Cleanup efforts had been underway in Austria, the place flooding washed away roads and led to landslides and bridge injury. Firefighters and troopers pumped water and dust out of homes and disposed of broken furnishings, broadcaster ORF quoted hearth division spokesperson Klaus Stebal as saying.
The governor of Lower Austria province, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, mentioned reconstruction was anticipated to take years, in response to the Austria Press Agency (APA).
The Vienna public transport firm has needed to pump nearly 1 million liters (260,000 gallons) of water since final weekend. Ten cities and areas had been nonetheless inaccessible on Thursday, APA reported.
In Hungary, flood waters continued to rise as authorities closed roads and rail stations. Ferries alongside the Danube River halted. In the capital, Budapest, water spilled over the town’s decrease quays and threatened to achieve tram and metro strains. Some transport companies had been suspended.
Further upriver, in a area generally known as the Danube Bend, houses and eating places close to the riverbanks had been inundated.
Nearly 6,000 professionals, together with members of Hungary’s water authority and navy, had been mobilized, and jail inmates had been concerned in filling sandbags, Prime Minister Viktor Orban mentioned at a news convention Thursday.
The Danube stood at over 771 centimeters (25 ft,) approaching the 891-centimeter (29.2 ft) report set throughout main flooding in 2013.
In southwestern Poland, the excessive waters reached the town of Wroclaw and a stretched-out wave was anticipated to take many hours, even days to cross, exerting strain on the embankments.
The water stage on the Oder River simply earlier than Wroclaw was 6.4 meters (21 ft), some 2 meters (6.5 ft) above alarm ranges however nonetheless decrease in comparison with the disastrous flooding in 1997.
In the 2 most-affected cities, Stronie Slaskie and Ladek-Zdroj, faucet water and energy had been restored, mentioned Gen. Michal Kamieniecki, who was put answerable for the restoration operations there after an emotional attraction to Tusk for assist the day earlier than by a younger lady recognized solely as Katarzyna.
As issues mounted, Tusk invited von der Leyen to Wroclaw to see the state of affairs first hand. Government leaders from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria had been additionally there.
In Italy, rivers flooded within the provinces of Ravenna, Bologna and Forlì-Cesena, as native mayors requested individuals to remain on the higher flooring or go away their homes. Those areas had been hit by devastating floods in 2023, when greater than 20 rivers overflowed, killing 17 individuals.
Italy’s vice minister for transport and infrastructure, Galeazzo Bignami, mentioned Thursday that two individuals had been reported lacking in Bagnocavallo, in Ravenna province.
At least 800 residents in Ravenna and nearly 200 in Bologna province spent the night time in shelters, faculties and sports activities facilities. Trains had been suspended and faculties closed whereas residents had been suggested to keep away from journey.
Source: www.dailysabah.com