At least 26 people have died across central Europe in the worst floods to hit the region in at least two decades this month.
The flooding left a trail of destruction from Romania to Poland, spreading mud and debris in towns, destroying bridges, submerging cars, and leaving authorities and householders with a bill for damages that will run into billions of dollars.
“In the Kłodzko County and in the Nysa County, during clean-up operations after the flood, two bodies were discovered,” Polish police said on social media platform X late on Thursday.
“Identification activities are ongoing. The circumstances of death indicate that this may be the 8th and 9th victims whose deaths occurred in the areas affected by the flood.”
Where Warta meets the Oder
Polish authorities remain vigilant as water levels on major rivers remain critically high. In Lubuskie province, the situation on the Oder River is currently stable, but officials are closely monitoring the flood crest as it moves toward the northwestern Zachodniopomorskie region.
In the western town of Kostrzyn nad Odrą, both the Warta and Oder rivers are dangerously swollen. The Warta’s level has risen to 475 cm, far above the alarm level of 410 cm. A similar situation is unfolding on the Oder, where water levels have surpassed 515 cm.
Local authorities, supported by firefighters and emergency services, have deployed temporary levees and water-filled barriers to protect homes and infrastructure.
As a precautionary measure, large sandbags have been prepared for potential deployment by helicopter to bolster flood defenses.
Provincial officials say that the Warta Mouth National Park absorbs large volumes of water and acts as a natural floodplain. This measure mirrors efforts made during the catastrophic 1997 floods, which saw the park absorb 250 million cubic meters of water.
Recovery efforts continue, with emergency teams working around the clock to mitigate the damage and prevent further loss of life.
