Slovakia hit by serious floods
May 19, 2010
Heavy rainfalls in Central Europe have caused flooding in countries as far apart as Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Serbia and Slovakia. Rivers have burst their banks; transport has been badly disrupted – adding to problems caused by the volcanic ash affecting flights – power stations have had to close. And most tragically of all, there have been several deaths around the region.Examples of the disruption:
- The Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site was closed on Tuesday and staff moved the irreplaceable items which are on display there to safety.
- In some areas, rescue workers died trying to protect property and people, and elsewhere angry citizens felt that not enough was being done to help them.
- In Krakow, the Vistula river nearly reached one of the town's bridges.
- Some of the rivers affected include the Becva, Bodva, Hernad, Berettyo, Morava, Myjava, Ondava, Sajo, Trnavka, Vistula.
- The Danube does not yet appear to be causing as much disruption as it has in the past – which is a blessing because of its size. When the Danube floods it is more than an inconvenience it is often a catastrophe.
- Several towns have had to be evacuated or partly evacuated including some in northern Hungary, southern Serbia, the Czech Republic, southern Slovakia,
- British soldiers on Exercise Rhino in Namest nad Oslvou have offered help to the Czech Republic.
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