Flood Waters Receding

24 May 2010

Floods continue in southern Poland

20 May 2010

Source PAP/tvn24/UWMalopolski

Thousands have been evacuated from homes throughout southern Poland as continuing rain and large-scale flooding have caused havoc, and even death in some cases.

150 schools have closed due the floods, and many roads and railway lines are under water. Electricity has been cut in several areas, including parts of Krakow and surrounding towns, including Skawina. In Bochnia, 30 km east of Krakow, drinking water is being relayed to stranded residents by special cisterns, as flood water has contaminated pipe mains there.

Rainfall is higher than it was in 1997, when there was widescale flooding in southern Poland as well as throughout the Czech Republic and Slovakia. According to Miller, the situation in Krakow is “similar to that of 1997.”

Heavy rain over the weekend led many rivers to rise above warning levels. On Sunday night, Krakow mayor Jacek Majchrowski announced a state of emergency when the River Vistula was 74 cm over the warning mark in Poland’s southern city. On Tuesday morning, that level had risen to over 300 cm, with many roads and underpasses closed and river water almost reaching bridge levels. On Tuesday morning, a decision was taken to close one of the main bridges crossing the Vistula in Krakow.

Five people have died so far from the flooding. Two people died in Malopolska province, and one fireman suffered a heart attack during a rescue mission in neighbouring Silesia. The latest victim of the “great water” is an 8 year old boy who fell into a river in Krakow.

May 2010