Brace yourselves! 🌧️ Communities in southwestern Poland are uniting as rising rivers threaten homes and businesses after days of intense flooding across Central Europe.
Soldiers and volunteers have been laying sandbags around the city of Wroclaw to fend off the swollen rivers. Poland joins Austria, the Czech Republic, and Romania in battling the floods resulting from record-breaking rains that started last Thursday.
So far, 23 lives have been lost across the region, with seven each in Poland and Romania, five in Austria, and four in the Czech Republic. The European Union's head office stated on Wednesday that these floods, along with the wildfires in Portugal, are evidence of a \"climate breakdown\" that could become the new normal unless drastic action is taken.
Though the weather has improved with warm and sunny skies, some areas remain under threat, particularly in southwestern Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk held crisis meetings in Wroclaw, urging for protective measures and assuring assistance for those affected.
Communities Taking Action 💪
In Marcinkowice, near Wroclaw, soldiers and residents are working tirelessly, stacking sandbags near a bridge over the Olawa River. Artur Piotrowski, the community leader of Olawa, described the situation as difficult, with two villages flooded since Monday and residents refusing to evacuate.
Thousands of soldiers are on the ground, evacuating people and animals—including dogs and horses—and distributing food and drinking water. A field hospital has been set up in Nysa after patients in a local hospital had to be evacuated earlier this week.
Coming Together in the Face of Adversity 🤝
In towns like Glucholazy, soldiers are building temporary bridges to replace those washed away by the floods. Residents of Stronie Slaskie have appealed for more coordinated cleanup and recovery efforts, highlighting the community spirit and resilience in the face of chaos.
Cities like Opole and Wroclaw are bracing for potential flood threats, with experts preparing for the cresting of the Oder River. Wroclaw, a city with a rich history and vibrant culture, is all too familiar with such disasters, having experienced severe flooding in 1997.
Let's keep these communities in our thoughts and hope for brighter days ahead! 🌤️
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
