Floods in Poland leave behind a huge amount of destruction in many towns. This is exactly what happened in Lądek-Zdrój in Lower Silesia. TVN24 reporter Jan Piotrowski was on site. – It was such a powerful force hitting the city from the broken dam that we had nothing left to save – reported local entrepreneur Borysław Zatoka. – I learned from a friend that her mother died without leaving the house, not believing in such a flood wave – he said.
Huge amounts of mud and gravel, houses broken in half, bridges torn off and people throwing sludge out of their homes with shovels. Enormous destruction and human tragedy – this is the situation in Lądek-Zdrój in the Kłodzko district in Lower Silesia. A huge flood wave passed through this town of several thousand inhabitants, leaving behind a series of severe destructions. At first, its streets were flooded by Biała Lądecka, and later in Stronie Śląskie, located above Lądek, a dam burst and the great water devastated the spa town.
“It was such a powerful force that no amount of stacking bags worked.” A resident's account
TVN24 reporter Jan Piotrowski was in Lądek-Zdrój on Monday. As he reported, it is difficult to get to the town itself, because the roads are impassable.
– There is no electricity here, no running water, no mobile phone signal. The residents have to cope with all this somehow – said Piotrowski.
Local entrepreneur Borysław Zatoka talked about what the city looks like after the flood. – Basically, we have the only crossing in the form of a bridge-viaduct. The rest of the bridges were torn off – he said. As he said, “it was such a powerful force hitting the city from the side of the broken dam in Stronie that we had nothing left to save”.
– No amount of sandbags would work. All we had to do was run away. It was a devastating force, we had no chance – he said.
– We literally had a few minutes to evacuate. The police and services called for this evacuation, but very often people underestimated the threat and did not believe that the dam in Stronie would break. What saved us was the fact that it was daytime. Because if this situation had happened at night, we would have had hundreds of victims – he assessed.
What does Lądek-Zdrój look like after the flood wave? TVN24 reporter is on siteTVN24
The water reached up to the first floor
Zatoka emphasized that “at the moment the entire city is struggling with problems.”
– All the bridges have been knocked down and we have no crossings. The biggest problem, as usual, appears in the mountains, in the basin, right above the river – he said. According to him, rebuilding the destruction “is a huge challenge for such a small town, which, unfortunately, is not budgetarily ready for such challenges”.
– We need quick decisions from the government, launching special funds, such that would allow us to employ specialists ready for reconstruction – he said. He indicated that it was “above all heavy equipment”.
He also announced that “a moment ago he received a proposal to accommodate several dozen volunteers, but we do not have the possibility to give them accommodation overnight”. – This is arduous work in removing mud, removing rubble. Above all, it is work for heavy equipment and it would be good if the government side could immediately launch such assistance for us – he explained.
What was the level of the water that flooded the streets? – We wouldn't be able to fit in this water. This water was up to the windowsill (…) of the first floor window. It flowed at such a high level for several hours. This was not a situation comparable to, for example, Wrocław, where water remains for several days. This flood passes quickly. It happened yesterday and yesterday the water also receded – he described.
– What is the biggest problem for us at the moment is the destroyed infrastructure. We have no gas, no water, no electricity and no communication. Communication will most likely be restored tomorrow – he said.
“I found out from a friend that her mother died without leaving home”
Zatoka also shared a painful story. – It's sad, but I just found out from a friend that her mother died without leaving the house, not believing in such a flood wave – he said.
Government officials have repeatedly appealed to people in recent days to follow the orders of services or local governments regarding evacuation. On Sunday, for example, Prime Minister Donald Tusk he said that “some residents sometimes underestimate the level of danger and refuse to evacuate”. – So I want to repeat once again on behalf of all services, especially firefighters, that everywhere, where there is a call to evacuate, but to immediately carry out these recommendations – he emphasized.
Minister of National Defence and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz in Monday's “Kropka nad i” on TVN24 also stressed how important it is to evacuate early enough. He appealed to “follow the recommendations and orders of local government officials, uniformed services, and the military” when it comes to evacuation.
– Please follow this appeal. The situation will be much more difficult later on – he emphasized, while assuring that “of course we will help everyone and rescue everyone who requires this help”. He pointed out that to some who did not evacuate, it is sometimes necessary to send helicopters, among others, but for example at night “moving (them) through low cloud cover is simply difficult or impossible”. – It is not always possible to reach by helicopter either. We use military transporters, amphibious vehicles and they also have certain limitations – he emphasized.
– In the name of responsibility, not only for yourself, but for them, I kindly ask you to comply (with evacuation orders – ed.). If necessary, we will issue orders and that is what a state of natural disaster is for – declared the Minister of National Defense.
Kosiniak-Kamysz on evaluation: if necessary, we will issue ordersTVN24
Main image source: TVN24