Soldiers have dropped sandbags from military helicopters to reinforce river embankments and evacuated residents as the worst flooding in years spreads across Central Europe, taking lives and destroying homes.

Climate change is influencing extreme weather events like the flooding across six countries that has led to mass evacuations of cities as the waters continue to rise.

Floodwaters have ravaged cities throughout Central Europe this past week, wreaking havoc and leaving everything in a pool of murky water.

Soldiers and volunteers in southwestern Poland laid sandbags Wednesday near swollen rivers around the city of Wroclaw to protect homes and businesses after days of flooding across Central Europe. Poland joins Austria,

The storm that hit central Europe — which unleashed several months’ worth of rain in just a few days — was spawned by a rare combination of meteorological factors.

The death toll from the severe flooding in Central Europe has risen to at least 23, according to the latest tally after another victim was confirmed. In the Czech Republic, a fifth death was announced by Interior Minister Vit Rakušan on Thursday.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Massive floods pounded Central Europe on Monday, killing four more people in Poland and one in the Czech Republic.

Poland joins Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania in being hard hit by floods after record rains in the region that started a week ago. Authorities have reported 23 deaths, with seven each in Poland and Romania, five in Austria and four in the Czech Republic.

Heavy rains caused severe flooding in Central Europe, affecting countries like Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania.

A massive flood wave moving across Central Europe is threatening new areas and raising concerns among residents and officials.

A massive flood wave moving across Central Europe threatened new areas after claiming 24 lives, raising concerns among residents and officials and prompting European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen to plan a visit to the region Thursday.