Preparing for the worst in Warsaw - photo: east news

Poland’s capital, Warsaw, is bracing itself for a flood wave, which has already wreaked havoc in southern Poland and is now flowing north up the Vistula river.

The wave, caused by days of heavy rain, may reach up to eight metres above emergency levels, say local authorities. Five people have already lost their lives in the most serious flooding in Poland since 1997; thousands in the south of the country have had to be evacuated and PM Donald Tusk said yesterday that the financial cost could reach two billion euros.

“We are ready for a record high wave on the Vistula,” said Ewa Gawor from the Warsaw Security Bureau.

Today, a crisis management group, headed by the mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, will hold a meeting to assess the risk of flood in Warsaw and work out a strategy in case the city is inundated. It is possible that some inhabitants of Warsaw will have to be evacuated.

At night the level of the Vistula river, which flows through the heart of the capital, increased by 50 cm and in some places stood at 564 cm.

At the moment the river is rising 20-30 cm per hour and is the highest in 160 years.

Several streets in the southern part of Warsaw and river banks on the right side of the Vistula are already under water. The North Bridge which is under construction has been evacuated. The National Stadium in Warsaw, which is also being built for the EURO 2012 football championships, and is located next to the Vistula, is not immediately threatened but the main investor assures that the stadium is protected against the flood.

The Zeran and Siekierki power stations, located near to the river are also safe, say authorities.

Warsaw zoo, near the east bank, is getting ready for the flood, with sandbags being put along bulwarks and zoo buildings. The director of the zoo Andrzej Kruszewicz said that in case of emergency, animals may have to be put down. There are over 4,000 animals kept at the very popular tourist spot. (mg/pg)