Flood 2010, Poland

In May 2010 rainy and windy fronts caused flooding in southern Poland. The most affected provinces were Dolnośląskie, Podkarpackie, Mazowieckie, Małopolskie and the area of Cracow. Floodwaters have already killed 15 people and approximately 10 000 people being evacuated along the Wisła River, in particular in Cracow and Sandomierz. The floods led to the closure of schools, bridges and the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Numerous roads and railroads are under water, bridges are broken. Power cuts have affected several zones, including part of Cracow and surroundings cities.

Dolnośląskie province


In Dolnośląskie province were announced 10 flood alerts. On May 18th firefighters launched the Lipka-Oława flooding area with capacity of 38 million m3. They also launched the Trestno-Blizanowice flooding area with capacity 3.8 million cubic meters. The flood wave on the Odra was slower than in 1997. Due to the high level of water in Odra, bridge in Oława had to be closed. In Wrocław, as a result of wrong information that the water supplies will be stopped, people began in panic to buy food and water from stores.

On 21st May afternoon wave on Odra in Oława reached the state in 1997. Part of flood water spilled to the Lipka-Oława flooding area. As soon as flood wave reached the Dolnośląskie region people began upgrading and sealing riverbanks in Oława, Kotowice, Siedlce, Łany, Wrocław, Brzeg Dolny and Ścinawa. In all these places riverbanks survived. Hundreds of firefighters, soldiers and residents of surrounding towns worked for that. Flood alert was also announced in the city of Wrocław. District of Wrocław - Kozanów was flooded, because the river broke the riverbanks. Polanowice and Psie Pole districts were also flooded.

Podkarpackie province


At least 9,500 people were evacuated in Podkarpackie province. On May 18th the riverbank on Bren river near Ziempniów had broken and the water blocked the 982 national road. The water also flooded the eastern part of the Szczucin community. On May 19th at approximately 5 p.m. riverbanks had broken in Trześniówka. Through 20 meter hole water flooded Trześń, Sokolniki and Furmany. People were evacuated in these areas. In Tarnobrzeg body of 59 years old man was found. Really hard situation was in the Tarnobrzeg area. Most of Tarnobrzeg districts were flooded. Dzików estate was undermined. Water has 10 meters height. Between the Wisła River and Trzesniówka and between Trzesniówka and Łęg, 40 km square area (twice the size Solina Reservoir) was flooded. In Strzyżowice area many landslides damaged residential buildings. On the Sobów - Grębów track railways were undermined. The rescue operation in Podkarpackie province involved more than 1,700 firefighters, 350 soldiers and six helicopters. Also 30 rescuers came from Ukraine, who brought four high-performance pumps. For the entire rescue operation were used more than 1.5 million sand bags. Over 5000 farms were flooded.

Mazowieckie province


On 19th May flood alerts have been announced in areas of Lipsko, Zwoleń, Kozienice, Garwolin and Grójec because of the raising water level in Wisła. Army and fire brigades fortified Miedzeszyński riverbank in Warsaw at the height of Saska Kępa and the Helskie Coast using sandbags. On 21th May approximately 3 a.m. the level of the Wisła in Warsaw has exceeded 700 cm, at 5 p.m. it was already 764 cm. That same afternoon water flooded into the construction of the Copernicus Science Centre. In the morning of May 22nd in Warsaw, the highest level of water in the Wisła River was 779 cm. Riverbanks became saturated, but there was no leak. On 23rd May there was the difficult situation in Świniary. Water made a hole in a riverbank at the length of 50 meters. Firefighters evacuated residents of Dobrzyków. Also on May 24th defense of riverbanks in the region of the Wisła - Słupianki and Płock - Borowiczki-Borowiczki had succeded. All rescue forces had been directed to the region to repair the riverbanks using sandbags. In Płock Gmury Street was flooded, which is located near Wisła River, where there are 20 houses. Also on May 24th in Gąbin sappers blasted riverbanks and made about 40 meters hole to direct water from the backwater back into the Wisła. Previously people had been evacuated from flooded areas. 1200 hectares and seven towns had been flooded. The only not flooded village in the Płock area is Piotrkówek.

Małopolskie province



70% of Małopolskie province has been affected by flooding, where over 6200 farms were flooded and about 12000 people had suffered. Riverbanks were damaged in 96 places, 334 landslides became active, which destroyed 402 buildings. Flooding damaged 15 water supply facilities, three wastewater treatment plants and more than 1500 individual wells. At least 4000 people were evacuated. In Cracow, because of the flood Dębnicki bridge was closed at noon on May 18th, which is located in the city center. Also bridge in Nowa Huta had been closed. The level of water in the Wisła River was so high that the gap between the water and bridges disappeared. The water level in Wisła in Bielany on May 20th was 770 cm - 250 cm above the alarm state. In the critical moment was 957 cm. It has been the highest level of water since 40 years.
On the night of 19th May river shaft broke near Zakole Wisly Street and near the bridge Zwierzyniec. People were evacuated from these parts of the city, and also from districts: Kostrzewo, Budzów and Pychowice. Shelter was also evacuated. The zoo had to be closed. On 17th May river shafts on the river Uszwica broke flooding towns: Kwików, Księże Kopacze, Kopacze Wielkie, Wola Przemykowska and Wola Rogowska. Because of flooding over 330 schools were closed in the whole province, and in some High School Diploma examinations were canceled. Children from two nurseries in Cracow and about 100 students from Cracow's Educational Centre for Blind Children were evacuated.


The flood also attacked kujawsko-pomorskie, lubelskie, lubuskie, łódzkie, opolskie, podlaskie, pomorskie, śląskie, świętokrzyskie, wielkopolskie and zachodniopomorskie provinces.