A devastating storm pounded the small Czech town of Litovel, leaving residents like Jarmila Šišmová unprepared for the flooding that followed.
Forced to evacuate with her children, Šišmová returned to find her home submerged in dirty water, destroying her belongings. “It was devastating,” she said, as she discarded damaged furniture and toys.
The Czech Republic has been at the center of a powerful storm that has claimed over two dozen lives across Central Europe.
Heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding, prompting the European Union to pledge €10 billion in aid for affected countries. Torrential rains have also wreaked havoc in Africa and Asia, where more than 1,000 people have died in flooding.
Devastating floods across Central Europe leave behind destruction, forcing thousands to begin recovery efforts.Climate experts say the intense rainfall is linked to global warming, with extreme weather becoming increasingly frequent.
Miroslav Trnka, a climate scientist, warned that even small increases in rain intensity can overwhelm flood defenses. “It’s a binary problem,” he explained, as defenses either work fully or fail.
The hardest-hit areas include towns along the Czech-Polish border, where floods destroyed homes and livelihoods. In Krnov, where three people died, the city library lost 20,000 books.
In Jesenik, a deluge of 500mm of rain overwhelmed the sewage system, leaving streets coated with toxic mud.
Despite the challenges, volunteers have flocked to the region to aid in the cleanup. Authorities urge people to register with aid groups to organize relief efforts effectively.
Though recovery is underway, the emotional and financial toll on residents like Šišmová remains immense, with many questioning if they can rebuild their lives.