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.

Flooding sparked by Storm Boris in central Europe has burst dams, knocked out power and killed at least 18 people, authorities said on Monday, as more people were evacuated. High winds and unusually heavy rainfall have hit swathes of Austria,

Authorities are working to secure riverbanks in Poland and Hungary as Storm Boris wreaks havoc in Europe. More than 20 people have died from the weather system and thousands of others have been evacuated from their homes in what is being described as the worst storm to batter the continent in two decades.

Central Europe began counting the cost of deadly and devastating floods caused by Storm Boris, as the European Union pledged billions of euro in aid to affected countries and northern Italy became the latest area to be inundated by torrential rain.

The storm has hit the north-east and central regions of Italy, days after causing widespread flooding in central Europe.

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.

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