The 1997 floods hit the japanese area of Moravia – the place the heaviest rainfall can be anticipated this time – claiming 50 lives and inflicting injury price billions of {dollars}.
In 2002, floods swept primarily the western a part of the nation, killing 17 individuals and inflicting injury even larger than that in 1997.
Cities in Moravia put up anti-flood boundaries and ready sandbags to battle the weather on the weekend, whereas native forecasters additionally warned towards wind reaching as much as 100kmh.
Organisers have cancelled dozens of cultural occasions, together with a wine competition within the southern Moravian metropolis of Znojmo, which attracts dozens of 1000’s of individuals yearly.
Not removed from Znojmo, the Carnuntum Roman competition in japanese Austria was cancelled as effectively.
“Because of the present climate state of affairs, it’s sadly not attainable to carry the Roemerfest safely and sensibly, which is why we’re cancelling the occasion with a heavy coronary heart,” the organisers stated on its web site.
Austrian TV channel ORF stated the rainfall may trigger the extent of the Danube to rise to five-year and even ten-year-highs.
Within the metropolis of Villach within the southern Carinthia province, pedestrian walkways and cycle paths alongside the Drau river are as a result of be closed.
Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer stated on Wednesday the military was able to deploy as much as 1,000 troopers over the weekend if want be.
The Slovak military and voluntary firefighters have been additionally on alert.
“Six- and five-kilometre-long cell dams are on stand by,” stated Slovak hearth brigade chief Adrian Mifkovic.
If forecasts for Slovakia maintain, the rainfall might be heavier than throughout the 2013 floods, which have been thought-about a once-in-a-thousand-year occasion, stated the imeteo.sk web site.
