Storm Boris kills 15 as floods continue to ravage central Europe
Al JazeeraSep 29
At Least 19 Dead as Storm Boris Impacts Central Europe
Above: A submerged foot bridge during high water levels in the Danube Island area of Vienna, Austria, on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Image copyright: Michaela Nagyidaiova/Contributor/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
At least 19 people have reportedly died till now in flooding caused by Storm Boris in central and eastern Europe, particularly Romania, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
Among the dead are a firefighter in Austria's state of Lower Austria. Over 25K emergency personnel are deployed in that region.
The Spin
Narrative A
A rare coming together of extreme weather systems — Arctic air colliding with warm, moist air from the east — catalyzed deadly Storm Boris. This was intensified by record humidity and a historically warm Mediterranean Sea. The deluge has caused tragic losses and is a stark reminder of the intensifying effects of climate change.
Narrative B
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality, they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.