The S8 route has already been launched in both directions. The S2 connecting road to the S79 is also passable, as well as the S79 connecting road at the Marynarska junction – road workers reported after 3 p.m. Many basements and underground garages are still flooded. However, firefighters report that the situation is under control and stable.
The spokesman for the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways, Szymon Piechowiak, said earlier that the night-time downpour and the formation of ponds of water caused the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways to close S8 between the Marymoncka and Modlińska junctions, the connecting links of the Warszawa Lotnisko junction on the S2 and Marynarska junction on the S79. It is known that these routes are already passable. Sections of national roads in the Masovian Voivodeship are also passable.
The road towards Poznań has been launched
– Currently, after the excess rainwater has drained from the main city sewage system, retention tanks are being emptied at the S8. Previously, its outflow was limited by water flowing from the city streets. Five pumps are working – explained the GDDKiA spokesman after 2 p.m. He added that the roadway towards Poznań had been opened. The police had previously blocked the entry to the S8 from the Warszawa Zachód junction to the Marki junction towards Białystok.
The passage from S7 to S2 towards Terespol is unblocked. It was not possible to travel from S2 from Terespol to S79 towards Warsaw (towards Sasanka) and from S2 direction (from Terespol) to S79 towards Radom.
– Water from the sewage system is discharged into the Raszynka River. We have expanded the scope of the search in terms of the obstruction of the drainage ditch that connects the Raszynka River with the private course of the ditch – informed Piechowiak.
The exit from S79 to Marynarska Street is also passable, as well as the route in the opposite direction. – The pump sections operate continuously, draining water into the drainage system. Their operation is supported by an additional pump – explained the GDDKiA spokesman.
Firefighters and GDDKiA services worked in these places.
Flooded Warsaw, several hundred police officers in actionKSP
The exception is the tunnel in Ursus.
“Vehicle traffic on the streets of Warsaw has been cleared, except for Cierlicka Street on the section from Lalki Street to Kościuszki Street in Warsaw's Ursus district,” the Warsaw police reported on platform X.
KSP emphasized that this does not mean the end of the police work. “In case of further rainfall, we are ready to ensure safety. Every piece of information is important, if you see a threat, share your concerns with the police,” the officers added.
Traffic on the streets of Warsaw has been cleared, except for Cierlicka Street on the section from Lalki Street to Kościuszki Street in Warsaw's Ursus district. This does not mean the end of police work. In the event of further rainfall, we are ready to ensure safety. Remember!!! Every… pic.twitter.com/1bDNRlN7BG
— Warsaw Police (@Policja_KSP) August 20, 2024
An appeal to use public transport
On Tuesday morning, the Warsaw Police Headquarters reported that due to the nightly downpours, the commander had issued an alarm for the officers of the Warsaw garrison. The S8 route from Połczyńska Street towards Białystok, as well as from Marki towards Poznań, was closed to traffic. The section towards Poznań was opened at 12:45, and after 1 p.m. the carriageway towards Białystok.
KSP appealed to drivers to “leave their cars” and use public transport that day.
As Karol Kroć, press officer of the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Warsaw, listed after 7 a.m., the flooded areas included: viaducts on route S2, route S79 near Chopin Airport, Sikorskiego Avenue near Dolina Służewiecka, viaducts near Lazurowa, viaducts near Aleja 4 Czerwca 1989 and Spisaka Street in Ursus.
Thousands of applications, most in Mazovia
– From Monday to Tuesday morning, firefighters intervened 2.9 thousand times due to the storm front. On Monday, there were 2.5 thousand interventions, and from midnight to 6 a.m., 394 calls were recorded throughout the country, including 385 in Warsaw – senior brigadier Karol Kierzkowski, spokesman for the Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, told the Polish Press Agency.
– On August 19, 2,547 incidents related to the removal of the effects of strong wind and rainfall were recorded in the country. The most incidents were recorded in the Wielkopolska province – 900, Mazowieckie – 765, Łódzkie – 290 and Dolnośląskie – 221, he informed.
He added that from midnight to 6 a.m. on Tuesday, 394 reports were recorded across the country, including 385 in Warsaw.
– In the Masovian Voivodeship, the most difficult situation is in Warsaw, where there could have been almost 1,000 reports of fire brigade interventions – mainly for flooding (…) about 200 interventions concern the Pruszków district, as well as Grodzisk Mazowiecki and Mińsk Mazowiecki – over 100 interventions by firefighters – he said.
He noted that intensive activities are still underway to pump water out of streets, buildings and basements.
The airport was operational, but access was difficult
As Anna Dermont, spokeswoman for Chopin Airport, told us, “currently, flight operations are taking place without any major difficulties”. – According to data from IMiGW, a record-breaking 90 litres of rain per square metre fell in the area of Chopin Airport in 24 hours. The heavy rain caused retention tanks and the airport sewage treatment plant to overflow. In such difficult weather conditions, there were also temporary difficulties for passengers in the terminal at the Warsaw airport. Airport services operated until late at night, thanks to which check-ins are currently taking place normally – Dermont informed.
Flooded tunnel at Okęcie airport, on the S2 route in WarsawPAP/Leszek Szymanski
She recalled that on Monday, due to electrical discharges, gusts of wind and precipitation limiting visibility, take-offs and landings were suspended for several minutes. – Nevertheless, no flight was redirected or canceled – she noted.
The airport representative also said that “the terminal is also operating without major difficulties”. Only two check-in desks are out of order. – Check-ins are taking place normally. The situation is under control – assured Dermont.
Access to the airport was difficult, however. The downpours caused large floods on the S79 route. Firefighters and motorway services were pumping out water. The road was impassable. The airport can be reached via Żwirki i Wigury Street, which was heavily congested.
Damaged part of the roof of the shopping mall
As junior captain Jakub Nowak from the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Warsaw told us, “the reports concern mainly flooded basements and garages”. – Water entered, among others, the basement of the hospital on Szaserów Street. A section of the roof of a shopping mall in Sadyba was damaged by the pressure of the water. The underground garage in a building on Faworytki Street in Mokotów was flooded – Nowak listed.
The firefighter added that there were no injuries in incidents directly related to the storms.
Main image source: KSP