As Storm Boris brought devastating floods to central and eastern Europe, skeptics on social media dismissed the role of climate change in making the deadly rainfall more intense. But scientists have established ties between a warmer atmosphere and torrential rain,

Central European countries have suffered enormous damage to infrastructure and housing during the current flooding that has claimed 24 lives in the region. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday pledged billions of euros for flood recovery.

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.