Storms and gales hit Poland: homes flooded, trees down and thousands of emergency callouts

Across the country, firefighters are battling to deal with the weather front moving across Poland. Since midnight they have already responded to more than 4,000 call-outs to remove fallen trees, secure damaged roofs and pump water from flooded streets and buildings, the State Fire Service reported at 10:00 on Saturday.

Due to the forecast weather conditions, 12 scout camps have also been evacuated as a precaution. "Participants and staff have been taken to permanent buildings" - Brigadier Karol Kroć from the State Fire Service told the Polish Press Agency. He stressed that so far there have been no reports of injuries.

By midnight, eight camps had been evacuated: one each in Lower Silesia and Małopolska, two in Mazovia, two in Wielkopolska and two in Warmia and Masuria. After midnight a further four camps had to be evacuated in Łódź Voivodeship.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said that, in view of the strong gales and the meteorological situation, the Territorial Defence Forces remain on heightened alert to support public administration and emergency services in dealing with the effects of dangerous weather phenomena.

Most flooding in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship

According to the duty officer at the Provincial Fire Service Command in Toruń, in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship firefighters were most often called out to pump water from basements, properties and streets. There were far fewer interventions involving fallen trees and branches.

In Łódź Voivodeship firefighters mainly dealt with the effects of strong winds - fallen trees and broken branches. There were also several instances of water being pumped out, but no roofs were torn off. "It wasn't tragic, but reports are still coming in" - said the duty officer at the Provincial Crisis Management Centre in Łódź.

The situation is also difficult because of power cuts. Around 19,400 households are without electricity. The largest numbers of customers without supply are in the Tomaszów Mazowiecki area - around 5,500, Zgierz - 4,400, and Piotrków Trybunalski - 3,200.

Storms and strong winds in Wielkopolska

In Wielkopolska, overnight storms and heavy rainfall mainly caused trees to be toppled and local flooding of properties and basements.

In Warmia and Masuria firefighters recorded more than 90 call-outs related to heavy rain and strong winds. Most interventions involved pumping water from flooded roads, properties and basements.

Łyna exceeds warning level

The overnight rainfall, which locally reached as much as 90 mm, also affected water levels. The Regional Water Management Authority (RZGW) in Białystok reported that at the Olsztyn-Kortowo gauge the level of the Łyna river exceeded the warning level of 160 cm by 5 cm.

In the Bartąg area, water overtopped the embankments and then spread over wasteland and into the so-called encircling ditch. Allotment gardens in Olsztyn were also flooded. According to the RZGW, the situation on the Łyna is now beginning to stabilise and the water level is gradually falling. Services continue to monitor the state of the river.

In Mazovia the highest number of interventions were recorded by firefighters in Warsaw and the districts of Piaseczno, Grójec, Pruszków and Wołomin. "Reports are still coming in" - said Brigadier Łukasz Darmofalski of the Mazovian fire service.

Call for caution

Because of the strong wind, Kampinos National Park has appealed to residents and tourists to exercise particular caution. "Avoid open spaces and places exposed to the wind. During strong gusts, do not stop under trees" - the statement reminded. Before setting off on the trails, people were also advised to check the latest forecasts and weather warnings.

Due to the weather, the gardens of the Wilanów Palace Museum and the Royal Łazienki Park in Warsaw, as well as Warsaw Zoo, have been closed until further notice.

On Saturday the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management issued warnings for storms in the southwest of the country and strong winds in the Podlaskie, Mazovian, Łódź and Warmian-Masurian Voivodeships. Strong gusts of wind are also still occurring in the Warmian-Masurian, Pomeranian, Świętokrzyskie and Lublin Voivodeships.