Floods in May and June could return. Photo: east news

Residents of the southern region of Podkarpacie, who were severely affected by spring flooding, are afraid of another flood wave as heavy rains return to Poland.

The mountain region of Podkarpacie was flooded twice this year, in May and June, and it may be hit by a third flood wave soon as torrential rains and thunderstorms are expected in the area. Meteorologists predict that up to 70 mm of rain may pour into Podkarpacie and rivers are likely to exceed emergency levels.

Residents of Gorzyce county also fear a return of the floods as embankments on the Vistula and Trzesniowka Rivers were destroyed last time and have yet to be adequately repaired. destroyed.

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Beata Kaczmarzyk, whose house was badly damaged during the previous flooding, says she will not renovate yet because the possibility that it will be flooded again is very high.

“After the flooding we received money from the government which has to be used by the end of the year. But what’s the point of renovating the house if it will be flooded again,” Kaczmarzyk told Polskie Radio.

Some frustrated residents are planning to move out for good. They accuse local authorities of negligence and helplessness. They would gladly move to the town of Sandomierz, where most of them works, but real estates are more expensive there.

“I’ve been sleeping in the attic with my family waiting for another flood. I really have had enough. The area is regularly flooded and there is nowhere we can move to because we can’t afford living in Sandomierz,” says Pawel Bujak.

Marian Grzegorzek, councilor in the town, says that the residents have nothing to fear as he has already commissioned reinforcements of the embankments.

But Jerzy Duchnowski, head of construction company which is to repair the them, warns, hoverer, that the repairs have just started and will be finished only in September.

“Rain hampers the works as machines get stuck in mud. Before we start reinforcing the embankments we need to build a road for heavy machines,” Duchnowski he told Polish Radio. (mg)