Flooding caused by Storm Boris in central Europe has breached dams, knocked out electricity, and killed at least 17 people, authorities reported Monday, four days into the tragedy. Since Friday, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia have all experienced high winds and exceptionally heavy rainfall. The rains have flooded streets and drowned entire communities in some areas while shutting down public transport and electricity in others. According to the most recent figures, the storm has killed seven people in Romania, four in Poland, three in Austria, and three in the Czech Republic. Several persons remain missing.

“I have lived here for 16 years, and I have never seen such flooding,” Judith Dickson, a resident of Austria’s Sankt Poelten city, told national broadcaster ORF.

According to experts, climate change caused by human-generated greenhouse gas emissions increases the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as torrential rains and floods.

In Austria, three individuals died: a 70-year-old, an 80-year-old, and a firefighter in Lower Austria, the country’s worst-affected province. According to forecaster Geosphere, parts of Austria have received five times the typical amount of rain in September since Thursday.

According to authorities, the flooding has burst 12 dams, caused muddy rivers to rage, and left thousands of households in Lower Austria without electricity or water.

Several neighbourhoods remain blocked off, and hundreds of people have been evacuated by helicopter from car rooftops and other locations. The government has allocated 300 million euros ($330 million) to deal with the disaster.

The flooding has caused a river cruise ship carrying 142 people, largely Swiss tourists, to dock in Vienna, according to the Swiss-based company Thurgau Travel. This ship is also among approximately 70 other boats that are unable to continue their travels on the overflowing Danube.

Further north, in eastern Germany, moveable flood protection walls were installed in some areas on Monday to protect Dresden’s ancient city as the Elbe river level climbed. A peak was forecast for mid-week.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Germany was “deeply touched” by “dramatic” photos and news about flooding in neighbouring nations.

The Czech Republic and Poland have also reported deaths, evacuations, and widespread devastation in the worst-hit regions. On Monday, Czech police reported that three persons had died as a result of Storm Boris, and eight were still missing.

“All pavements are destroyed, everything’s toppled here, everything’s broken around the shop… it’s a nightmare,” said a 76-year-old pensioner Eliska Cokreska.

Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk promised one billion zloty ($260 million) in relief for those affected by the storm, which has caused hundreds to abandon their homes.

While the water in certain cities, like Klodzko, is receding, revealing ruin and devastation, additional flooding was expected in the north.

Compared to 2013, the amount of water was nearly three times larger. On Monday, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu warned reporters that dealing with such natural disasters was difficult. Hungary has sent around 350 soldiers to reinforce flood barriers as the Danube and rivers in its basin will likely overflow.

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