European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has promised several billion euros in relief for Central European nations heavily impacted by severe flooding that has already claimed 24 lives as destructive waters devastated infrastructure and homes.

During her visit on Thursday to a flood-stricken region in southeastern Poland, von der Leyen met with the leaders of Poland, Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic to assess the damage firsthand.

She assured that funding for the recovery efforts would be made available swiftly through the European Union's solidarity fund, along with an additional 10 billion euros (about $11 billion) from the cohesion fund dedicated to urgent repairs. Individual member states won’t need to contribute for the money to be released, von der Leyen emphasized, noting the necessity for a rapid response in light of the disaster.

The severe flooding, largely attributed to Storm Boris, has caused the most extensive damage seen in over two decades, affecting areas from Romania to Poland. The storm has since moved toward the west.

Meanwhile, other areas remain under flood threat, with incessant rains requiring the evacuation of around 1,000 residents in Emilia-Romagna, a region in northern Italy.

In Italy, the floods have led to the closure of schools and suspension of rail operations in numerous provinces on Thursday.

In Lugo, near the city of Ravenna, authorities ordered the evacuation of all ground-floor homes after the Senio River breached its banks.

"We are in the midst of a full-blown emergency," noted Michele De Pascale, the mayor of Ravenna, in a statement to Radio 24.

Irene Priolo, Emilia-Romagna’s acting president, informed RAI public radio that certain areas had received up to 250 millimeters (9.8 inches) of rainfall, causing three rivers to overflow their banks.

Italy’s national fire service conducted more than 500 rescue missions in Emilia-Romagna, utilizing helicopters for certain operations.

The severe weather also caused floods and landslides in the nearby regions of Tuscany and Marche.

Across Central Europe, as waters began to recede, the immense damage caused by days of torrential rains became evident.

In northern Czechia, authorities reported another fatality on Thursday, bringing the region’s death toll to five. Poland and Romania each reported seven deaths, while Austria suffered five.

In the Czech Republic, soldiers joined rescue teams to aid with recovery efforts. The military has been using helicopters to distribute humanitarian supplies and to construct temporary bridges where previous ones had been destroyed by the floods.

In Ostrava, roughly 400 people remained displaced, while authorities in Veseli nad Luznici, in the southwest of the country, monitored rising water levels from the Luznice River. Fortunately, the planned evacuation of 1,000 residents was deemed unnecessary for the moment.

Austria has initiated clean-up operations, struggling to recover from floodwaters that washed away roads, collapsed bridges, and unleashed mudslides. Firefighters and soldiers have been working to pump water from homes and remove flood-damaged belongings, according to spokesperson Klaus Stebal from the fire department, as cited by the national broadcaster ORF.

The reconstruction process in Austria could take several years, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, the governor of Lower Austria, informed reporters from the Austria Press Agency.

Austria has already raised its disaster relief budget to one billion euros (about $1.1 billion) to support flood survivors.

In Hungary, water levels continued to rise, prompting the closure of roads and halts in rail service. Ferries along the Danube River also ceased operations. In Budapest, the rising waters broke onto the lower riverbanks, with public transport routes, including trams and subway lines, at risk of becoming inundated. Certain transport services in the capital were temporarily suspended.

Further up the Danube River, in the area known as the Danube Bend, homes and restaurants near the riverbanks suffered heavy flooding.

In Poland, several towns have faced devastation as floodwaters destroyed homes, collapsed bridges, and damaged important roads and rail infrastructure. In certain regions, residents are still without power and access to drinking water.

The floodwaters also reached Wroclaw in southwest Poland, placing significant pressure on the city's flood defenses. Authorities expect the stretched-out wave of high water to last for many hours, even days, before subsiding.

The Polish government has pledged two billion zlotys (around 470 million euros or $523 million) in direct aid for residents and areas affected by the floods.

Experts warn that climate change, driven by human activity, is making extreme weather events like these severe floods and torrential rains more frequent and intense.