The retention pool on the River Vistula between Plock and Wloclawek is being drained to allow for the culmination wave there, forecast for Sunday afternoon.

Interior Minister Jerzy Miller said on Sunday that the dam in Wloclawek is not threatened by the floods, adding that the culmination wave had passed through Warsaw and levels of the River Vistula were lower by 20 cm in Poland’s capital.

The dam opened its gates to release water from the River Vistula, with water being let through at a rate of 5,500 cubic metres a second. Currently the retention pool has a reserve height of 1.5 metres, but can fill up in a matter of hours when the flood waters come.

Poland's Prime Minister and Parliamentary Speaker were in Wloclawek, Saturday, to inspect the dam.

The central Polish city has already issued an emergency flood warning, and evacuations in the Wloclawek area were planned as the culmination wave moves along the Vistula.

Messrs. Tusk and Komorowski took part in a local emergency meeting, after which the evacuations were announced. Local authorities are confident that the flood embankments will be able to contain the high water. (jb)

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