Many people, after receiving media information, try to check the flood threat level with their own eyes. The tragedy is really not far away, so I kindly ask you not to take risks, and on the other hand, not to hinder the functioning and work of the police, fire brigade and other services fighting the element – appealed the Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak during a press conference in Nysa.
During a press conference in Nysa, Minister of Infrastructure Dariusz Klimczak emphasized that in the fight against the element “cooperation with various services, not only meteorological ones, but above all those responsible for organizing traffic, is important”.
– Let us remember that the Polish state is not the owner and supervisor of all carriers in our country, therefore I would like to sincerely thank the provincial governments, all regional carriers, for allowing us to exchange this information and, above all, pass it on to our citizens – he added.
Flooding in your townsReporters24/Contact24
Communication difficulties in the south of the country
The head of the Ministry of Infrastructure emphasized that before moving through areas at risk of flooding, one should familiarize oneself with the announcements of the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways, as well as information from individual carriers. As he emphasized, “this is extremely important, this data changes not only from hour to hour, but sometimes even from minute to minute. Many tracks are washed away, we cannot conduct passenger traffic on them.”
Dynamic flood situation. The swollen Odra River in WrocławPAP
– Here, from the point of view of transport of our entire country, it is mainly about local, regional or interregional connections between the Lower Silesia, Opole and Silesian voivodeships. Due to the events, especially that night, international communication with Czechs was closed until further notice, some connections were closed mainly due to the lack of such communication on the Czech side – he said.
The Ministry of Infrastructure reported on Sunday on platform X about the current situation at railway stations.
Kłodzko station in Lower Silesian Voivodeship was closed and staff were evacuated.
At the Wałbrzych Główny station, the communication tunnel leading to the platforms is flooded (approximately 40 cm of water).
At Bielsko-Biała Główna station, water from the flooded communication tunnel drained on its own. The lifts leading to platforms 1, 2 and 3 are still flooded.
In Zawiercie in the Silesian Voivodeship, basements are flooded, water is being pumped out.
In Rybnik the tunnel was flooded, 10 cm of water, no alternative access to the platforms, water is being pumped out.
The Ministry announced that the Customer Support Center had prepared refreshments for passengers waiting at the stations in the following locations: Lublin Główny, Gliwice, Katowice, Kutno, Bydgoszcz Główna, Kraków Główny, Opole Główne, Zawiercie.
The following sections are closed from Saturday: Piechowice – Szklarska Poręba, Jelenia Góra – Rybnica, Jelenia Góra Zachodnia – Jelenia Góra Sobieszów, Prudnik – Nowy Świętów, Łambinowice – Nysa, Głuchołazy station.
Polish State Railways announced that due to unfavorable weather conditions, rail passenger border traffic between the Czech Republic and Poland has been suspended. International trains traveling from Poland towards the Czech Republic terminate at the Zebrzydowice and Chałupki stations.
Klimczak also added that currently “there are no serious problems that would disrupt air traffic in the south of the country or hinder the operation of airports in Kraków, Katowice or Wrocław.”
The Silesian SideAdam/Kontakt24
The Minister appeals to residents
Due to the dangerous situation, Klimczak also asked residents not to hinder the work of the services and not to risk their health or life by monitoring the flood threat with their own eyes.
Flooded streets in CieszynPAP/Michal Meissner
– Many people, after receiving media information, for which I would like to thank you all very much, are trying to check the flood threat with their own eyes. Among others, we have such a situation at the Racibórz reservoir, which has had the first such test in history since its construction and many people would like to see it. I have information from the president of Polish Waters that people are gathering unnecessarily at the Racibórz reservoir, they want to observe with their own eyes – he said.
As he emphasized, “the tragedy is really not far away”. – That is why I kindly ask you not to take risks and, on the other hand, not to hinder the functioning and work of the police, the Fire Department, Polish Waters, and the individual regional boards of Polish Waters. This is an extremely important appeal – he concluded.
The Minister of Interior and Administration also commented on “flood tourism” Tomasz Siemoniakappealing not to approach reservoirs or embankments, as it is dangerous due to the soaked, slippery ground in those areas.
– However, due to the fact that these activities at the reservoir in Racibórz are on such a scale that they pose a threat to the operation of state services, I gave an order to the Chief of Police to have the policemen simply secure this tankso you have to take into account restrictions when it comes to traffic and arrivals there – he explained.
– We ask that in such difficult situations, priority be given to the actions of state services. We try to inform about what we are doing, providing various information. There will be time to see various things in person, but now is not the time – added Siemoniak.
Main image source: PAP