The owners of a guesthouse in Lądek-Zdrój managed to evacuate before the flood, but are now facing the effects of the disaster. “This was their whole life. In one afternoon, everything fell apart,” says Mrs. Anna, the sister of the victim.
Willa Marianna is a guesthouse in Lądek-Zdrój, a spa town in Lower Silesia. The tourist business in an original 19th-century building is run jointly by two families – sisters Maria and Anna with their husbands Przemek and Jarek. In total, there are four adults and four children living on site.
The sisters inherited the guesthouse from their father. Over the years, they managed to expand the building and create a place attractive to tourists. – The guesthouse was their source of income and residence – says Mrs. Monika, niece of one of the owners. – Not only did they lose the roof over their heads, but also their source of income.
Villa Marianna in the 19th century
The guards ordered us to run away.
Already on Saturday evening, Tomasz Nowicki, the mayor of the city, called on residents to evacuate. “There is no point in waiting, the Biała Lądecka River has burst its banks and is flooding our streets and roads like in 1997. It can only get worse with each passing hour, so it is worth using the help of firefighters and evacuating,” he informed.
The drama in Lądek-Zdrój took place on Sunday. After the levees at the dam in Stronie Śląskie failed, a flood wave swept through the city. It carried cars, trees, bins, waste and lots of mud. It also reached the Villa. “Everyone was surprised by what happened,” says Mrs. Anna, sister of one of the owners of the guesthouse.
– Until the dam burst, it seemed that it would end with a flooded basement. Suddenly the fire department arrived. The firefighters said: “Run away”. They got into an off-road vehicle and drove away. And after a few minutes a huge wave came. It was not known whether the building would collapse – he says.
The family found shelter with a neighbor. The wave did not reach the building above.
The Biała Lądecka River flooded Lądek-ZdrójPAP/Maciej Kulczyński
Everything has flown away
The scale of the damage is hard to estimate at the moment. Mrs. Anna reports that the water took away some of the equipment and infrastructure. – There was a wedding tent, toilets, a barbecue shelter that seemed so solid. Everything floated away, leaving an empty square – she says. – The force of this wave was enormous, in several places it tore up the asphalt.
Stairs in Villa Marianna in Lądek-Zdrój after the flood wave
The guesthouse was flooded, the lower floors are in the worst condition, including the boiler room. – The wave broke the windows. There is this dirty, brown water everywhere. Beds, couches, furniture, everything is ready to be thrown away. There was an antique floor in the dining room, it is all under water. The kitchen and boiler room were flooded, I don't know what condition the stoves will be in. Winter is coming, we will have to heat this building somehow – lists Mrs. Anna.
The owners' apartments were also destroyed. – My brother sent me videos, I couldn't believe I was seeing his house on them – says Mrs. Anna. And Mrs. Monika adds: – We don't know what exactly they managed to take with them. They are cut off from the world, there is no electricity, no telephone coverage. There was no contact with them for 24 hours. Fortunately, we finally made it. We felt great relief when we learned that they had survived the night.
The floor in a guesthouse in Lądek-Zdrój after the flood wave
– I got through this morning – says Mrs. Anna. – They only got a signal when they climbed a hill near the Czech border. My brother was holding on, but when he heard my voice he started crying. I asked how I could help him. He replied: “Send me the army.”
The destruction is so extensive that it is hard to imagine.
We managed to save the horses
As he adds, the most important thing is that everyone survived. And that they managed to save the horses. The villa is famous for its animals. However, it had just been hot, and suddenly it became cold and wet – the horses got hypothermia. My brother managed to massage them enough that they stood up, and led them to a friendly place located higher up. At the top, the frozen horses were covered with blankets.
The women are worried about what will happen next. They are trying to organize help, pumps and generators are already on standby. They are just waiting for information on whether the roads are passable. Information chaos and lack of contact with loved ones do not make things easier. – The destruction is unimaginable – says Mrs. Monika. – They need everything there, even drinking water.
– This place is not earning money now. Even if they rebuild it, renovate it, it will take a long time. The next few months will be very difficult – says Mrs. Anna.
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