The flood wave on the Odra reaches Oława and will soon be in Wrocław. On Monday evening, it exceeded the level of 620 centimetres on the water gauge in Brzeg and a decision was made to open the Oława-Lipki flood polder. Senior Captain Michał Wójtowicz, press officer of the district State Fire Service in Oława, told tvn24.pl that two villages – Stary Górnik and Stary Otok – will probably be at least partially under water within a dozen or so hours. From the village of Stary Górnik, “only two families” decided to evacuate. He had no information about the residents of Stary Otok. He did not rule out that some evacuated on their own, but he emphasised that most decided to stay with their belongings and wait.
The local media wrote about the planned opening of the Oława-Lipki polder during the day.
Senior Captain Michał Wójtowicz, press officer of the district State Fire Service in Oława, said before 11 p.m. in an interview with tvn24.pl that “the polder is being opened” and this operation takes about two hours. In this situation, the villages of Stary Górnik and Stary Otok will probably be flooded and it will be “a matter of a dozen or so hours”.
He emphasized that such a decision – to open the polder – was taken by Wody Polskie in a situation in which the water level on the water gauge in Brzeg would exceed 620 cm. This happened on Monday evening. – When the lock is opened, which is happening now, flooding of houses is very real. Lower-lying ones will be flooded, perhaps those located higher – not, explained Senior Captain Wójtowicz.
He added that “only two families” from the village of Stary Górnik decided to evacuate, and “the commune provided them with accommodation”. – The rest of the residents want to stay where they are – wait – he reported. In the case of the village of Stary Otok, he had no information about those evacuated. – Perhaps someone left their home on their own – he noted.
The services are currently closing the Oława-Jelcz and Oława-Janików roads. – In the morning, you can't drive through them – said Senior Captain Wójtowicz.
Earlier, preparations were underway for the evacuation of two towns.
Earlier, the starost of Oława, Marek Szponar, spoke about the possibility of opening the polder.
– Because there are natural overflows in the embankments, at the appropriate level, which is approximately 6.2 meters on the water gauge in Brzeg, they are activated and the water starts to flow into the polder. This also leads to the flooding of two roads, which we will also have to close – he explained.
Preparations for the evacuation of two towns with a population of around 350 began on Sunday afternoon after a meeting of the crisis team, but – as previously reported – only a small group of people took advantage of this opportunity. Most residents secured their belongings. Preparations are underway throughout the district in connection with the approaching flood wave.
Oława is located about 30 kilometers southeast of Wrocław. It has a population of over 30 thousand people.
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