According to the Polish government plans, a state of natural disaster will be declared in flooded areas for up to 30 days in southern Poland. The situation was caused by the consequences of the so-called Genoa cyclogenesis, that brought the masses of humid air to the borders of Poland, Czechia and Austria.
Flooding continues in southern and western Poland. The situation is most dramatic in Lower Silesia and the Opole region. On Saturday and Sunday, the head of the Polish government, Donald Tusk, met with the local emergency services, and the ministers of interior, national defence, infrastructure and climate.
One of the most important dams in the region, situated in Stronie Śląskie in the Kłodzko district was breached. In Głuchołazy in the Nysa district, water pressure destroyed a temporary bridge. Stronie Śląskie and Lądek Zdrój are now cut off from transport.
The streets of Kłodzko are covered with water which remains at 50 cm to 1.5 metres. Evacuation of the population is underway in many places around Lower Silesia. 33 patients had to leave the city hospital in Nysa, including pregnant women and children.
The President of Wrocław Jacek Sutryk announced that, according to forecasts, the flood wave on the Oder River will begin to pass through the city on Wednesday at around 6 p.m. The local police and fire department began preparing infrastructure reinforcement in various parts of the city. A flood alert in the capital of Lower Silesia was declared.
The situation is widely compared to the so-called Millenium Flood of 1997 during which cities like Wrocław, Racibórz and Kłodzko suffered great material losses in infrastructure and public institutions like museums. 56 people lost their lives during the flood, and as much as 1 million livestock drowned.
The Polish Prime Minister declared the government to assign a budget reserve of 1 billion zlotys for people and property destroyed during the flood.
The Polish community in the United Kingdom, including the BritishPoles.uk organised a fundraising campaign to support those who suffered during the flood. We strongly encourage you to contribute to that aid programme. Details: https://www.siepomaga.pl/en/polonia-na-wyspach-pomaga-powodzianom
Source: PAP
Tomasz Modrzejewski
Photo: Bartłomiej Jurecki
