Wroclaw, Poland’s third-largest city, is preparing for floodwaters to peak after central Europe experienced the worst floods in 20 years. The floodwaters reached Wroclaw overnight, but so far, the city’s defenses are holding up.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it’s still too early to say the danger is over. He urged people to stay alert and closely monitor river levels.
Agnieszka Popow-Wozniak, a 44-year-old who works at an infertility clinic, cycled through the city and told reporters that the situation looks better than expected. “The city center isn’t flooded. The recreational beaches are underwater, but we expected that. Everything seems optimistic for now,” she said.
Around 16,000 soldiers, along with police and volunteers, are helping with the flood response.
Tusk is also planning to meet with European leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to discuss aid for the flood-affected regions. The floods have left a trail of destruction from Romania to Poland, killing at least 24 people across four countries, including seven in Poland.
The floods have caused severe damage, washing mud and debris into towns, destroying bridges, and submerging cars. The cost of the damage is expected to reach billions of dollars.
Von der Leyen will visit Wroclaw to meet with Tusk and other leaders from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Austria to talk about helping the flood-hit areas.
In the Czech Republic, the cost of the damage will be in the billions of euros. In Hungary, towns are dealing with the rising Danube River. Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the river’s water level in Budapest is expected to peak on Saturday, but it won’t reach the record levels seen in 2013.
Tusk also warned people about false information spreading. A man dressed as a soldier has been telling people that flood defenses will be blown up, which isn’t true. Authorities are searching for him, and Tusk urged people not to believe these rumors.
This man is driving a car with fake registration numbers, which makes the situation serious. Authorities are working to stop this false information from spreading.
