Heavy rainfall is causing rivers to burst their banks, leaving huge swathes of central Europe reeling

Vast areas of central Europe are experiencing what is being called the worst flooding in more than 20 years, triggered by slow-moving Storm Boris. WHO/Europe has been reaching out to affected Member States and offering support, including health advice for communities.

Several deaths have been reported, with numbers likely to rise as the full extent of the damage becomes clearer. Thousands have fled their homes and public services remain severely disrupted. For many people, this is the second experience of flooding this year.

In Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, relevant ministries are implementing preparedness, response, rescue and recovery efforts.

In the WHO European Region, which covers 53 Member States across Europe and central Asia, floods are the most common natural hazard leading to emergencies. Floods cause extensive damage, disruption and adverse health effects, particularly given the potential for increased transmission of water- and vector-borne diseases.

The impacts of floods on health arise directly through contact with floodwater as well as indirectly from damage to health facilities, other critical infrastructure, ecosystems, food and water supplies, and social support systems. Such impacts can be immediate, but can also occur days, weeks or even months after floodwater has receded.

Staff of WHO country offices and WHO representatives in impacted countries are in contact with relevant ministries and stakeholders to define specific actions that WHO can take to complement ongoing response, rescue and recovery efforts. This includes specific flood-related health advice and actions at the community level.

WHO has published public health guidance for individuals on protecting health and keeping safe before, during and after floods. The guidance recommends:

• avoiding entering flood waters or unstable structures, and if stranded, waiting for rescue without venturing into unsafe areas;
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• staying informed and following guidance from local authorities, and only returning home once it has been declared safe; and
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• before consuming water or food or using home utilities, ensuring that everything is safe and maintaining strict hygiene at all times.

For more detailed health advice, click the link below:
Public health advice in the aftermath of flooding: how to protect your health and keep safe

The climate crisis has taken a mounting toll on the WHO European Region in recent years, influencing the intensity and extremity of weather events. The scale of the floods in the Region this year is another reminder of the urgent need for countries to work jointly on combating climate change and its impacts on health. This commitment is spelled out in the groundbreaking Budapest Declaration that emerged from the 2023 Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health.

WHO/Europe partners with Member States in tackling this challenge via the Regional Office in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the European Office for Environment and Health in Bonn, Germany.