Floods Bring Central Europe to a Standstill

The worst flooding in years is spreading across Central Europe, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The region has been battered by heavy rainfall, with at least 16 deaths reported so far. The affected areas include the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria, with many more places bracing for the floodwaters to hit. In Hungary, the government has deployed soldiers to reinforce barriers along the Danube River, while thousands of volunteers have been filling sandbags in dozens of riverside settlements. The city of Budapest has closed its lower quays and the lower half of Margaret Island, which is expected to be breached by rising waters later in the day. In Poland, the city of Wroclaw is also facing the threat of flooding. Firefighters and soldiers have been working through the night to reinforce the river embankments, while the city zoo has appealed for volunteers to fill sandbags. "We and our animals will be extremely grateful for your help," the zoo said in its appeal. The city of Nysa, located to the south of Wroclaw, has been particularly hard hit. The Nysa Klodzka River broke its banks on Monday, forcing residents to form a human chain to pass sandbags to the riverbank. "We simply . . . did everything we could," said the town mayor, Kordian Kolbiarz. "This chain of people fighting for our Nysa was incredible. Thank you. We fought for Nysa. Our home. Our families. Our future. "