UPDATE - Continuing floods in southern Poland have affected thousands of people who have had to evacuate their homes.
In Krakow, Sandomierz, and Tarnobrzeg, residents have been forced to leave their homes after flood barriers failed to contain the wave of floodwater currently going down the River Vistula.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited flood stricken regions today. In Sandomierz, the PM assured the town’s inhabitants that their property will be safeguarded and appealed to residents to co-operate with the rescue services.
"Special teams will be dispatched to Sandomierz to assure a speedy rescue operation. It is vital however that the city’s inhabitants co-operate with these services. It cannot be that people refuse to leave their houses and possessions faced with a serious life threat," Donald Tusk underlined.
Most of the Silesian town of Bierun is currently under water, with four tributaries of the River Vistula overflowing directly into the town. The River Gostynka has flooded entire rediential estates, with 7,000 people waiting to be evacuated.
The deputy in Bierun has proclaimed a state of emergency there, after all roads in and out of the town have been closed, with no alternative means of transport available.
In nearby Oswiecim, the River Sola has burst its banks in the direct vicinity of the Nazi concentration camp museum of Auschwitz, which has closed and where exhibits have been moved to higher levels.
In Krakow, at 0830 CET the River Vistula stood at 943 cm, a slight drop, although still over 4 metres above emergency levels. By 1330 CET that level had fallen further to 898 cm. At the height of the flooding, the Vistula stood at 957 cm, the highest level recorded in 40 years.
On Tuesday, the central Debnicki bridge was closed to traffic. During the night flood barriers collapsed to the east of the centre, near the district of Nowa Huta. Two further bridges have been closed and around 700 people have been evacuated. Some areas of the western district of Zwierzyniec have also been evacuated.
Further along the River Vistula, 7,000 residents of Tarnobrzeg are being evacuated. In Sandomierz, the Vistula is almost 3 metres above emergency levels and has started to flood its right bank, forcing evacuations there.
The crest of the flood has now passed through Krakow, and is due to arrive in Warsaw at the weekend. Poland's capital is prepared for evacuation of those districts bordering on the Vistula, though experts consider such measures will not be necessary.
Floods started at the weekend, as heavy rain across the south of Poland lasted for over three days. Flood alerts were issued across the region on Sunday evening. Forecasts predict continuing heavy rain until Friday. (jb/ab)
Video of Debnicki bridge and flooding in Krakow, 18.05.2010
Sources: IAR/PAP/tvn24/Gazeta Wyborcza/UW Małopolski
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