Debnicki bridge in Krakow, closed due to flooding.
UPDATE - Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Interior Minister Jerzy Miller are visiting areas most affected by recent flooding throughout southern Poland.
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.
At a meeting with journalists Tuesday morning, Miller said that “[Monday] night was not so bad for the Malopolska province, as rain came in the early hours of the morning. It was worse for Silesia, where it rained all night,” adding that “the scale of destruction may well be higher than what we saw yesterday.”
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.”
Donald Tusk arrived in Krakow, Monday night, where he spoke to governors of the provinces most affected by flooding.
After the meeting on Monday, Tusk said that the situation is “not completely catastrophic,” although emergency services are still working flat out to keep the flooding situation in check.
During his tour of the most affected places, PM Tusk said that everything is being done to prevent the declaration of a natural disaster and state of emergency, "yet if this proves vital for the rescue of personal property then I will not hesitate [to do so]."
In line with the Constitution, the nationwide state of emergency would entail postponing the term of the upcoming presidential elections due on 20 June.
Flood barriers in Krakow (right), were installed on Monday night.
Earlier, Donald Tusk said that the flood situation in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will not have an adverse effect on continuing floods in Poland. The comment came as five retention pools along the River Oder in the Czech Republic became completely full, with one town, Troubky, 90 percent under water.
Interior Minister Jerzy Miller is in communication with the Czech Minister of Defence over any potential flooding threats that might come from the Czech Republic.
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. (jb)
Sources: PAP/tvn24/UW Małopolski
Photos courtesy: Anna Spysz (Krakow Post)
Also see Floods in southern Poland, thenews.pl, 17.05.2010
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