Flash floods pound Poland during heatwave

Photo: Glowimages

Lower Silesia in southern Poland was the worst hit, and fire-fighters took part in over 600 actions in the province,with the central and southern parts of the region bearing the brunt of the flooding.

Damage was at its most intense in the the Luban district, according to Krzysztof Gielsa, spokesman for the fire service in Wroclaw.

He told the Polish Press Agency (PAP) that many houses in the area were flooded, as well as a number of roads, with water levels reaching 1.5m in some places.

Fallen trees blocked the railway line between Wroclaw and Olesnica, and 25 passengers had to be evacuated. Several roads were also made impassable, due to collapsed trees. Power cuts have likewise been frequent.

The Lubusz region of western Poland also experienced storms, although damage was less extensive there. Fire-fighters had to intervene over fifty times, largely to pump out water from flooded cellars.

A similar situation occurred yesterday in the city of Elblag, northern Poland, in the Warmian-Masurian region, with fire-fighters compelled to pump water from cellars late into the night.

Overall, there were over 100 actions by fire-fighters in the region. Besides flooding, fallen trees were again a problem, but there have been no reports of injuries. (nh)

Source: PAP/IAR