South Poland experienced surging waters of the Vistula river, but the historic city Krakow escaped flooding. By now, the situation should be almost normal. The floods killed several people, too. PHOTO – TASR/EPA
which loops around the old town, appeared to have subsided in the early afternoon without breaching the city‘s defences. One bridge was closed and some streets flooded by water backing up through sewers. The picturesque old town and former Jewish quarter were not in danger. But heavy storms were continuing in the area and authorities said they feared the Vistula could peak again. Emergency services put the total death toll from recent storms across the country at 24, including flood victims in the south and people killed by falling trees and lightning. Witold Maziarz, spokesman for the national fire service, said this week‘s flooding in southern Poland had killed nine people, with one more missing and presumed dead. Taking into account other weather-related deaths in Poland, the toll amounted to 24, he said. Separately, Warsaw police said two people had been killed by lightning on the main thoroughfare in the capital, news agency PAP reported. Elsewhere in the south of the country the situation eased somewhat after recent flash- -floods in upland areas inundated buildings, swept away bridges and blocked road and rail links.
„We hope that the worst is over, because the weather forecast is looking better,“ Maziarz told Reuters. „Some rain is still expected, so some flood barriers could still be breached.“ Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek visited the worst-hit areas around the southern city of Kielce before going to Krakow, where
the local governor called on all available rescue workers to man the flood defences of Poland‘s mediaeval capital. Buzek, whose government has pledged nearly 300 million zlotys ($70 million) in disaster relief, said those in greatest need could expect quick financial help. About 3,000 people have been made homeless by the latest flooding. „We have made available financial resources which can be paid immediately to those who need them,“ Buzek said in Krakow.
Maziarz said he did not expect a repetition of the serious flooding of the Odra river four years ago along the German border, which killed 55 people in Poland and caused $2 billion in property damage.
Reuters
