Europe weather chaos - live: Italy braces for Storm Boris flooding as Portugal wildfires blaze and deaths rise
Thousands of firefighters in Portugal are battling wildfires as catastrophic central Europe floods are killing residents
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Extreme weather is sweeping across Europe with catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Boris that may reach Italy while five thousand firefighters are struggling to contain wildfires in Portugal.
Hot, dry conditions behind the fire outbreaks in Portugal came while downpours were concurrently causing flooding in central Europe.
Heavy rain is expected over much of Italy over the next few days, with the region of Emilia-Romagna and Lazio under yellow weather alerts.
Six people have died, including four firefighters, in northern Portugal and an unknown number of people have been forced to flee their homes.
The death toll from the severe floods in central Europe, which began over the weekend, rose to at least 21 on Tuesday, with seven confirmed fatalities in Romania. Poland, Austria, and the Czech Republic were also among the hardest hit.
Some 100 fires in Portugal have been reported by national authorities causing more than 50 people to be injured.
Poland’s prime minister, Donald Tusk, declared a state of natural disaster across the affected region of southern Poland.
Entire Polish city of 44,000 asked to evacuate as Storm Boris floods wreak havoc
Flooding in central Europe: what are my rights as a traveller?
Passengers stranded on board Swiss river cruise ship in Vienna due to Danube floods
Death toll rises across central Europe as devastating flooding sweeps region
Countries need to work together on flooding, says expert
Countries need to work together in responding to floods, an expert has told the BBC.
Dr Carmen Solana, Associate Professor in Volcanology and Risk Communication at the University of Portsmouth said floods, such as the ones that have hit Europe this week, are becoming more frequent and in Europe there is some cooperation and agreements, but “there is a need of even more international coordinated responses.”
One of the deceased a 46-year-old Austrian man
A man who was found dead on Monday afternoon in Austria was identified on Tuesday as a 46-year-old Viennese, police spokeswoman Manuela Weinkirn said.
According to Weinkirn, the man was recovered from the Danube near Marbach on Tuesday afternoon.
The latest from Portugal
Among the hardest hit areas is the district of Aveiro, south of the northern city of Porto, but blazes were also raging out of control in other wooded areas. Portuguese state broadcaster RTP showed images of houses burnt to the ground and smoke billowing over charred terrain in the area of Castro de Aire. Ground units were supported by Portuguese water-dropping aircraft. Fellow European Union members Spain, France Italy and Greece have committed to providing eight more planes to help local forces. “The EU stands with Portugal as it battles major wildfires,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a message on X. “I thank France, Greece, Italy and Spain for their rapid reaction. This is EU solidarity at its best.” Still, televised images showed some residents wielding tree branches and buckets of water to try to save their homes from encroaching fires.
A Czech town faces hard recovery after massive flooding
Torrential rains have gone, flooding waters have been receding and the sun was shining again in the Czech town of Bohumin. But Zuzana Kublova was not in a mood to enjoy it. The house where Kublova’s family lives was inundated as was almost this entire town in the worst flooding in years that spread at a broad swath of Central Europe. After three days in safety upstairs, without power, running water or a cellphone signal, she stepped down to face a scene of destruction. “The entire ground floor is flooded, so all of us seven people and two dogs have to live together on the first floor without electricity and water,” Kublova told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “And don’t even ask how we go to the toilet,” she said. “It has happened again, something that had happened to us two or three times in the past.” The town was submerged by a flood wave brought by the Oder River that was fueled by record rains in northeast Czech Republic in recent days.
Government promises ‘abundant public support' to restore housing
A deputy Portuguese minister has promised “abundant public support” for the recovery of houses destroyed by fires in the north and central regions of the country.
Manuel Castro Almeida admitted that European funds may be used to cover the damage caused by the fires, which could involve reprogramming them.
He said the number for the funds has not been finalised yet but “it will be very substantial public support.”
Latest in pictures in Portugal
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments