http://www2.polskieradio.pl/eo/dokument.aspx?iid=147537

Flood threat in Poland after thaw

18.01.2011

photo - PAP/Jerzy Undro

The opposition Law and Justice (PiS) party has called on the Crisis Management Centre to explain exactly what it being done against the threat of flooding in Poland as snow melts.

 

Law and Justice MPs want to meet with Centre representatives during a meeting of the parliamentary interior and administration committee.

 

Water in many Polish rivers has exceeded the alarm level. People in mid-northern parts of the Mazowsze region are anxiously awaiting a flood wave moving down the Vistula level. It was expected to rise to eight and a half meters, but may be eventually lower.

 

Alarm levels are also exceeded on the Odra River in the north-west of Poland.

 

So far, however, only some farm fields have flooded with almost no homes affected.

 

In some localities, the threat of flooding has forced the authorities to evacuate people: elsewhere, firemen have been busy pumping water out of flooded cellars.

 

In the eastern Lublin province, the swollen Bug river has cut off an entire village.

 

Local border guards are supplying food and medicines.

 

And in south-western Poland a small river broke through an embankment, flooding nearby fields and the national road no 5. The road can be passed, but with difficulty.

 

The next few days will be fairly warm in Poland – weather forecasts say. Light rainfalls are expected across the country during the night and temperatures should not fall below zero Celsius.

 

On Wednesday, most of Poland will be sunny with maximum temperatures of up to 8 Celsius. Snowfalls are expected as of Thursday and temperatures are likely to decline even to minus nine Celsius in southern Poland. (kk)