Just a week ago, before deadly floods swept through central Europe, the Czech Republic looked on track to become the first country in the region since COVID-19 to pull its budget deficit firmly below the 3% of GDP cap set by European Union rules.

Soldiers and volunteers in southwestern Poland have laid sandbags near swollen rivers around the city of Wrocław to protect homes and businesses after days of flooding across Central Europe. Poland joins Austria, the Czech Republic and Romania in being hard hit by floods following record rains in the region starting last Thursday.

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

Central Europe is experiencing the worst floods in at least two decades, with a trail of destruction from Romania to Poland and and the deaths of at least 23 people so far.

Deadly floods in central Europe threaten budget targets as Czech Republic and Poland count the costs. EU rules at risk as infrastructure damage hits $10 billion

Experts say the most severe floods to hit Central Europe in at least two decades fit into a broader pattern of extreme weather events.

Severe floods have disrupted financial stability in the Czech Republic and Poland, jeopardizing efforts to control budget deficits post-COVID-19. The damage might cost $10 billion, with EU funds covering only part of the expenses.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has pledged billions of euros in aid for Central European countries that suffered enormous damage to infrastructure and housing during the massive flooding th