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Europe floods: Is it safe to travel amid torrential rain as death toll rises with submerged cities

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Europe floods: Is it safe to travel amid torrential rain as death toll rises with submerged cities

The death toll from floods across central Europe has risen, with further casualties recorded in the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria. 

Meanwhile, water levels have exceeded 30ft in the Slovakian capital of Bratislava, submerging part of the city’s Old Town area.

Storm Boris, a slow moving low-pressure system, set off heavy rain on Friday that has carried on over the weekend. It brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours to Poland, Romania, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia, along with heavy winds.

But is it still safe to travel to Europe amid the ongoing deluge of rain? What should you do if you are in an area affected by flooding and what happens if the adverse weather conditions mean your flight gets cancelled? 

Read on below for the latest travel advice to Europe following the devastating floods. 

Is it safe to travel to Europe? 

In some countries that have been affected by continued heavy rainfall – Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland – the UK Government has advised Brits to check local conditions before you travel and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities. 

They have also warned holidaymakers to expect delays to their journey due to continued heavy rain.

More rain is expected throughout Monday and Tuesday in Austria, the Czech Republic and south-east Germany, where another 100mm could fall.

While it may still take days for the flood waters to subside, the weather will improve in central Europe from mid-week with much drier conditions.

Storm Boris is now expected to move into Italy, where the Emilia-Romagna region could be hit with 100-150mm of rainfall.

What should I do if my flight gets cancelled?

If your flight gets cancelled, you are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you won’t use in the same booking, such as onward or return flights (File image)

If your flight is cancelled, you have a number of different options.

You are legally entitled to a full refund, which includes other flights from the airline that you won’t use in the same booking, such as onward or return flights.

You are also entitled to a replacement flight to get you to your destination.

If your cancelled flight delays you by two hours or more, you have the legal right to be helped with costs.

If the replacement flight offered to you has delayed you by two hours or more, and you were given less than two weeks’ notice, you are legally entitled to compensation.

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