Prayers for Central Europe reeling under the worst floods in 70 years
"And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters receded ... and the rain from heaven was restrained." Genesis 8:1 Amid tensions due to seismic upheavals in the Asia Pacific, we at the Christian Conference of Asia, are shocked to hear of the worst flooding in Europe in the last 70 years. We read from news reports that disaster warnings have been issued for large parts of Central Europe and southern Germany amid fears that flood waters could rise further. With rivers threatening to burst their banks, thousands have been evacuated while governments have deployed defence forces to help in the effort to head off further parts of the region, including Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria from being engulfed by flood waters. Many roads and train lines as well as schools have been closed, while shipping has been stopped on large sections of the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers in Germany. In Austria, railway service stopped on a key East-West route connecting Central and Western European countries. Stranded travellers were put up in army barracks in Salzburg. In the meantime, the rising floodwaters are threatening the historic centres of towns and cities such as Prague. In the southern German city of Passau, located at a point where the three rivers converge, about 15,000 people are battling to contain the rush of flood waters that officials warn could hit levels not seen since 1954. Numerous dykes burst in Poland’s Lower Silesia region, flooding mostly rural areas. A state of emergency was declared in Austrian regions along the Danube, Cities in Slovakia and Hungary were also reinforcing flood defences in t he event of a sudden rise in the Danube River. The only silver lining is the Meteorologists’ forecast that the rain should ease in the coming days. We pray for our sisters and brothers in the flood ravaged parts of Europe and pray for God’s special blessings on the selfless and courageous people who battle tirelessly in the wind and rain and rising waters, to help the affected and try to prevent further damage. Let us trust in the Lord and wait for Him to pass over the earth as the wind that will calm and restrain the forces of nature. Photo credit: CNN News
