Poland Hit by Devastating Floods: Over 9,000 Evacuated
Poland is facing a severe flood crisis, with over 9,000 people evacuated according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The most affected region, Opolskie, saw 2,830 people being assisted by firefighters in evacuation efforts. Other areas like Dolnośląskie and Śląskie also experienced significant evacuations, while regions such as Lubuskie and Małopolskie were less impacted.
Health Facility Evacuations
Medical facilities were not spared from the crisis, with rescue teams evacuating patients from hospitals and care facilities. In Nysa, 101 patients were rescued by pontoon boats, while military helicopters aided in transporting 35 patients from a care facility in Paczków.
Initially voluntary, evacuations became mandatory with the declaration of a state of emergency on September 16. Despite the dangers posed by flooding, some residents hesitated to leave, concerned about their property.
This flooding crisis in Poland is reminiscent of the devastating 1997 floods, which resulted in nearly 200,000 evacuations.