Copters pluck frantic families from raging European floods
Source: Agencies |
June 6, 2013, Thursday
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FAMILIES in southern Germany scrambled to their rooftops and were airlifted to safety by helicopter yesterday after two levees broke and raging floodwaters swept through their village.
The drama in the southern German town of Deggendorf was being echoed in various degrees across vast tracts of central Europe. Authorities said at least 16 people have died and at least four others were missing in the surge of water overflowing river banks.
Thousands of people have had to be evacuated, chemical plants along the swollen rivers have been hastily closing down and emergency workers were bracing for new flood crests at cities along the mighty Danube and Elbe rivers.
The dpa news agency said helicopters started evacuating residents yesterday after two levees along the Danube and Isar rivers broke and huge masses of water poured into the Bavarian village of Deggendorf.
Four farmers were rescued at the very last minute by helicopter as floods submerged their tractor, firefighter Alois Schraufstetter said, adding that water was already 3 meters high in the village.
"This is a life-threatening situation," he told dpa.
Overall, the death toll included eight people in the Czech Republic, five in Germany, two in Austria and one in Slovakia. At least four other people were missing in the Czech Republic.
An emergency committee in Prague said the water in the Elbe was expected to reach 11 meters early today in the northern Czech Republic, almost four times its usual height.
Firefighters said more than 19,000 people were evacuated from the flooding in the Czech Republic. Floodwaters in the Elbe, after inundating parts of Prague, were now roaring north toward Germany, particularly the city of Dresden.
In villages around Usti nad Labem, a northern Czech city of 100,000 people, police in boats were handing out drinking water and medicine to those who had not evacuated.
Alena Lacinova despaired at how much she would have to rebuild after watching the water wash into her home. In many places, even protective barriers were unable to stop the surge.
"At the moment, we have about 2.5 meters of water inside. The cellar and the house are flooded," she said, adding that she was expecting another meter of water soon. "It's a pity for all those who have the same problem and have not enough money to fix it anytime soon."
Downstream, hundreds of people were being evacuated in the eastern German city of Dresden, where the Elbe was expected to crest last night. Early in the day the river was running about 7 meters over normal levels.
Authorities in the Czech Republic were also concerned about the safety of chemical plants next to the overflowing rivers.
Some plants have been shut down and their chemicals removed.
"It's not over yet," Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said yesterday. "There're tough moments still ahead of us."
The drama in the southern German town of Deggendorf was being echoed in various degrees across vast tracts of central Europe. Authorities said at least 16 people have died and at least four others were missing in the surge of water overflowing river banks.
Thousands of people have had to be evacuated, chemical plants along the swollen rivers have been hastily closing down and emergency workers were bracing for new flood crests at cities along the mighty Danube and Elbe rivers.
The dpa news agency said helicopters started evacuating residents yesterday after two levees along the Danube and Isar rivers broke and huge masses of water poured into the Bavarian village of Deggendorf.
Four farmers were rescued at the very last minute by helicopter as floods submerged their tractor, firefighter Alois Schraufstetter said, adding that water was already 3 meters high in the village.
"This is a life-threatening situation," he told dpa.
Overall, the death toll included eight people in the Czech Republic, five in Germany, two in Austria and one in Slovakia. At least four other people were missing in the Czech Republic.
An emergency committee in Prague said the water in the Elbe was expected to reach 11 meters early today in the northern Czech Republic, almost four times its usual height.
Firefighters said more than 19,000 people were evacuated from the flooding in the Czech Republic. Floodwaters in the Elbe, after inundating parts of Prague, were now roaring north toward Germany, particularly the city of Dresden.
In villages around Usti nad Labem, a northern Czech city of 100,000 people, police in boats were handing out drinking water and medicine to those who had not evacuated.
Alena Lacinova despaired at how much she would have to rebuild after watching the water wash into her home. In many places, even protective barriers were unable to stop the surge.
"At the moment, we have about 2.5 meters of water inside. The cellar and the house are flooded," she said, adding that she was expecting another meter of water soon. "It's a pity for all those who have the same problem and have not enough money to fix it anytime soon."
Downstream, hundreds of people were being evacuated in the eastern German city of Dresden, where the Elbe was expected to crest last night. Early in the day the river was running about 7 meters over normal levels.
Authorities in the Czech Republic were also concerned about the safety of chemical plants next to the overflowing rivers.
Some plants have been shut down and their chemicals removed.
"It's not over yet," Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas said yesterday. "There're tough moments still ahead of us."
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