Overflowing Waters Worsen in Głogów as Flood Level Rises

Overflowing Waters: A Battle Against the Floods in Głogów, Poland

Overflowing Waters Worsen in Głogów as Flood Level Rises

In the heart of Lower Silesia, the town of Głogów finds itself in a perilous standoff as relentless floodwaters from the Odra River surge forward. The town, and the surrounding areas, are fighting tooth and nail to stave off widespread disaster, with water levels reaching alarming heights.

At 17:00 on Sunday, the river stood ominously at 685 cm, dangerously close to an earlier peak of 689 cm, a threat that Głogów's mayor, Rafael Rokaszewicz, did not shy away from emphasizing in an interview with Polsat News reporter Katarzyna Janke. The town's Ostrów Tumski district, a critical location, is a significant point of concern. Emergency crews, comprising firefighters and soldiers from the Territorial Defense Forces, have been working tirelessly to shore up weakened sections of the levees. "We just finished reinforcing a leaking levee. The situation is tense," added Rokaszewicz.

The peak flood wave is expected to pass through Głogów from Sunday night to.With 208 square kilometers at risk, water levels have already reached 654 cm and are expected to rise to a catastrophic 7 meters. The levees, standing at 7.15-7.20 meters, teeter on the brink of collapse.

The disaster looms larger for several rural municipalities surrounding Głogów, where years of underinvestment have left open flood defenses vulnerable to the record-high water levels. "We are bracing for impact," said Rokaszewicz. "These levees have not seen proper upgrades in decades."

The local response to the flooding has been coordinated, with local residents, the fire brigade, and military personnel joining forces to fill sandbags, fortify flood barriers, and evacuate those most at risk. In Głogów itself, streets are waist-deep in water, and the town's drainage system groans under the strain, pushing water ever higher.

At one of the town's most vulnerable points, near Ostrów Tumski, firefighters are working feverishly to pump out water from overflowing sewage systems. The threat of further inundation remains a looming specter, a race against time, as the next two days are expected to be critical. "The surge will decrease slightly, but the water will remain high for two days. That is an enormous risk for the levees and their structural integrity," said the mayor.

Compounding the danger is the backflow from the Czarna River, a smaller waterway that feeds into the Odra. The backflow has already flooded several homes in Głogów, particularly in the Nosocice district, where floodwaters reached several properties on Osadników Street. The situation on the Czarna River has become the most immediate concern for many residents, as water levels continue to rise from the backflow effect.

"The most challenging issue is not on the Odra itself, but on the Czarna River," explained Rokaszewicz. "The backflow has flooded several houses. Despite our preparations - delivering sand and bags to residents and setting up evacuation zones - the water still managed to reach certain areas."

Residents affected by the flooding have been evacuated to safer locations, while emergency shelters have been set up for those displaced. Local officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, hoping to prevent further damage as they await the passing of the flood peak.

Long-term solutions will be necessary if the region is to avoid future disasters. The neglect of flood defenses for decades has left the area in a critical state of disrepair. "We have reached a point where emergency measures are no longer enough," said Rokaszewicz. "These levees should have been upgraded years ago. Now, we are paying the price for those delays."

As the floodwaters continue their slow retreat, local authorities will be assessing the damage and determining the scale of recovery needed. But for now, the fight against the flood surge in Głogów is far from over. Lives and livelihoods hang in the balance as the town and its residents brace for the impending storm.

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In the heart of Lower Silesia, the town of Głogów faces a perilous standoff against relentless floodwaters from the Odra River.
The town's mayor, Rafael Rokaszewicz, emphasized the danger in an interview, with the river standing at 685 cm, close to an earlier peak of 689 cm.
Emergency crews, comprising firefighters and soldiers, work tirelessly to shore up weakened levees, adding that the situation is tense.
The peak flood wave is expected to pass through Głogów from Sunday night, with water levels already reaching 654 cm and set to rise to a catastrophic 7 meters.
The local response to the flooding has been coordinated, with residents, the fire brigade, and military personnel working together to fortify flood barriers and evacuate those most at risk.
At one of the town's most vulnerable points, near Ostrów Tumski, firefighters are working feverishly to pump out water from overflowing sewage systems, with further inundation a looming specter.
The backflow from the Czarna River, a smaller waterway that feeds into the Odra, has already flooded several homes in Głogów, particularly in the Nosocice district.
Long-term solutions will be necessary to avoid future disasters, as neglect of flood defenses for decades has left the area in a critical state of disrepair, according to Rokaszewicz.