Seven Polish regions on flood alert

Flooded rail tracks at Glowno, Lodz region. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Michalowski

According to the Ministry of Administration and Digitisation, rivers in Malopolska, Wielopolska, Upper and Lower Silesia, as well as in the Lubusz, Lodz and Opole regions are all in danger of rising above the alarm level.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior has revealed that yesterday alone, firemen took part in 1600 storm-related actions across the country.

Salvage operations are chiefly related to pumping water from flooded cellars, removing branches of trees from roads and mending damaged roofs.

Heavy rains are expected particularly in the south and west of the country, but storms are are also possible in the north.

Alarm levels have already been crossed at 52 points along Polish rivers, 25 of which are on the upper and middle sections of the River Oder.

The Ministry of the Interior is advising drivers to pull over if caught in a storm.

Neighbours still bearing brunt of floods

So far, Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria have been the worst hit, with the German city of Passau, Lower Bavaria, suffering its worst floods in over 500 years.

German chancellor Angela Merkel has pledged 100 million euros towards immediate flood aid, and about 5000 troops have already been dispatched to help.

At least 17 people across Central Europe have died thus far as a result of the flooding.

In Prague, there has been a lull in the rain, but it is expected that the waters flowing along the River Vltava may yet wreak further havoc as they join Germany's River Elbe, flowing towards Dresden. (nh)

Source: PAP