EU issues warning over extreme weather

Large swathes of Central Europe continue to brace against floods, the worst in at least two decades, prompting officials to warn that such extreme weather events could become the norm due to climate change.

Poland joins Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania in being hard hit by floods following record rains in the region starting last Thursday. Authorities have reported 24 deaths so far this week.

While some areas have seen waters recede, others prepared for river overflows, as the floods moved through different zones, forcing residents and authorities to respond to rapidly changing conditions.

Torrential rains brought by Storm Boris on the weekend have caused billions of euros in damages.

Areas along the Czech Republic-Poland border have suffered the worst damage, reported Reuters, as debris-filled rivers destroyed historic towns, bridges, and houses, leaving tens of thousands without power or fresh water.

The European Union's executive branch issued a stark warning on Wednesday, citing the floods across Central Europe and lethal wildfires in Portugal as combined evidence of climate collapse, predicting such events will become commonplace without immediate action.

"Make no mistake. This tragedy is not an anomaly. This is fast becoming the norm for our shared future," said EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic.

Rampant wildfires in Portugal during the last week have killed at least seven people.

Researchers say fossil fuel emissions have exacerbated global heat waves, making them longer, more frequent, and more intense, which in turn raises the likelihood of wildfires. "Europe is the fastest-warming continent globally and is particularly vulnerable to extreme weather events like the one we are discussing today," Lenarcic told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.

Agencies contributed to this story.