Storm Boris Floods Central Europe, Death Toll Hits 24

When Markus Heiss, Partner at MDD Forensic Accountants warned that power outages were sweeping across Central Europe, the reality was already unfolding: flooding of unprecedented intensity had claimed at least 24 lives and left nearly two million people grappling with water‑logged streets, collapsed bridges, and evacuations on a scale not seen since 2002. The disaster began on September 13, 2024, when the storm system that would become known as Storm BorisCentral and Eastern Europe unleashed record‑breaking rainfall across the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Italy’s Emilia‑Romagna region.

Background and Meteorological Build‑up

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) recorded more than 500 mm (20 inches) of rain in the Moravian towns of Jeseník, Opava and Ostrava between September 12 and 15, shattering local flood records. In Poland, the Council of Ministers declared a 30‑day ‘state of natural disaster’ on September 16 for the hardest‑hit voivodeships. Researchers from a dozen European institutes later banded together under the World Weather Attribution project to dissect the storm’s intensity, focusing on a 10.7°E–24°E, 46°N–52.3°N box that captures the most severely affected catchments.

Scale of the Flooding and Human Toll

By September 20, official tallies listed 24 confirmed deaths, but the number of missing remains unknown. In the Czech Republic alone, more than 250,000 residents were left without electricity, and the city of Ostrava saw its rail network grind to a halt as floodwaters swamped tracks and bridges. In Poland’s Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Śląskie and Małopolskie voivodeships, the Prime Minister’s Office reported 57,000 people directly affected, with 6,544 evacuated after rivers like the Morawka burst their banks and several dams failed.

• At least 24 confirmed fatalities across six countries.
• Nearly 2 million people impacted by floods or power cuts.
• Over 40,000 evacuees in Nysa, Poland; 250,000 without power in Czechia.
• Record rainfall exceeding 500 mm in parts of Moravia.
• Infrastructure damage estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros.

Infrastructure Damage Across the Region

Germany’s historic city of Dresden saw a bridge collapse into the Elbe, cutting a vital transportation corridor. In Italy, the coastal town of Pescara mourned four victims—two Italians and two South Koreans—found frozen after mudslides swept the shoreline, as reported by Vatican News. Austrian valleys experienced landslides that blocked mountain passes, while Hungarian villages reported swollen Danube tributaries threatening centuries‑old flood defenses.

Across the border region of Poland and the Czech Republic, the combination of overflowing rivers and saturated soils caused “urban flash floods,” according to The Guardian and BNN. Schools and factories shut down, hospitals ran on generators, and the logistics network faced prolonged disruption.

Insurance and Economic Implications

“We’re looking at a wave of commercial insurance claims that could easily top the €2 billion mark,” said Laura Lagana, Manager at MDD Forensic Accountants. Her colleague, Katharina Wilson, Senior Manager at the same firm, added that the “CAT‑365 report” released on September 20 already flags record‑level precipitation zones where claims are likely to surge.

Local businesses in the affected zones face weeks of lost revenue. The agricultural sector in Hungary and Slovakia, for instance, reported crop losses nearing 30 % in flood‑plain valleys, potentially driving up food prices in downstream markets.

Scientific Attribution and Future Outlook

The multi‑national attribution study, using the RX4‑day (maximum 4‑day annual rainfall) index, concluded that climate‑driven changes in atmospheric moisture contributed significantly to the storm’s severity. While natural variability played a role, the researchers warned that similar events could become “more frequent and intense” under current greenhouse‑gas trajectories.

Authorities in the Czech Republic have begun reinforcing riverbanks and expanding early‑warning systems. In Poland, the government announced a €150 million emergency fund to rebuild damaged infrastructure, with the European Union pledging additional support through its Civil Protection Mechanism.

Key Takeaways

1. Storm Boris delivered record rainfall across Central and Eastern Europe, causing at least 24 deaths.
2. Power outages left a quarter‑million people in the dark, while massive evacuations displaced tens of thousands.
3. Infrastructure damage includes a collapsed bridge in Dresden, halted rail service in Ostrava, and deadly mudslides in Pescara.
4. Insurance firms brace for a multi‑billion‑euro claims wave, as forensic accountants document the scale of loss.
5. Scientists link the storm’s extremity to climate change, urging stronger mitigation and adaptation policies.