Residents of Oława in Lower Silesia are preparing for the arrival of a flood wave that is passing through the Odra River. The level of the river in Oława rose by 1.5 meters last night. The wave is expected to peak on Wednesday in the morning or afternoon. Residents of the city are preparing sandbags to secure the embankments.
Over the past night, the Odra River in Oława near Wrocław rose by 1.5 metres. Ultimately, it could reach 760 cm, similar to the flood in 1997. Mayor of Oława Tomasz Frischmann said on Tuesday evening in the “Dzień po dzień” programme on TVN24 that according to IMGW mathematical models, a wave of 700-760 centimetres is expected on Wednesday. “We expect it in the morning-afternoon hours,” he said.
– We are afraid that the wave may last long here. This may cause the embankments to soften and local seepage. An action is underway to fill sandbags, which are later transported to various locations in our city. Under the supervision of the State Fire Service, the Volunteer Fire Department and the military, they are deployed in places where intervention is needed – he added.
The mayor reported that an intervention was carried out behind the sewage treatment plant on Tuesday evening. Tomasz Frischmann warned that according to one model, the high water level could last for about a week.
In Oława, the most flood-prone housing estate, Zwierzyniec Duży, was evacuated. Some residents decided to leave their apartments. Local schools suspended classes from Tuesday.
Oława residents help secure the cityTVN24
Preparations for the coming wave
Already during the day, great mobilization was visible on Rybacka Street. Residents were preparing sandbags to reinforce the embankments. As Mrs. Dominika, one of the residents of the city, said, yesterday they packed over 20 thousand bags together.
Another resident explained that the high morale of the local community is most likely due to the experience of the previous flood. – We are preparing for very pessimistic forecasts – says Tomasz Frischman.
Also on Tuesday evening, residents threw sandbags to reinforce the embankments and protect the city from the high water.
– We have to help each other, we must not give up, we must always have hope – stressed one of the residents of Oława in an interview with TVN24 reporter Paweł Łukasik.
Oława residents strengthen the embankment against the coming flood waveTVN24
– If the forecasts come true, the water level will rise by another 30 centimetres, but it should not overflow the top of the embankments. For now, we do not have any major leaks, we are monitoring the situation – said Michał Wójtowicz, deputy commander of the State Fire Service in Oława.
Location of OławaTVN24
photo-source">Main photo source: TVN24
