Swathes of Poland’s southwest have been devastated by massive flooding that started on Friday, leading to seven deaths.

The country’s third-largest city, Wrocław in the southwest, was on tenterhooks on Thursday with residents hoping it would escape major damage.

The water level, while still high, has not resulted in major flooding on the city’s streets, but three beach bars in districts to the south have been submerged.

Soldiers and civilian volunteers built rows of walls made of sandbags to secure buildings and streets against flooding of the Bystrzyca, a tributary of the major Oder river.

Reuters later reported that the city appears so far to have withstood the flood wave.

Across the affected regions, the government has mobilized thousands of rescue and security services personnel in response to the disaster.

Speaking on Thursday in Nysa, a southwestern town that has witnessed some of the worst devastation, Kosiniak-Kamysz said that soldiers and emergency services would remain in flood-affected towns until the aftermath is cleared and life returns to normal.

“The army will stay in each town for as long as needed,” he said.

Operation ‘Feniks’

He also announced the launch of a special government operation aimed at rebuilding flood-ravaged regions.

The drive, called “Feniks,” will be conducted in multiple phases and is scheduled to run until December 31. After that, it could be extended.

Kosiniak-Kamysz, who is also a deputy prime minister, said that an extra 5,000 to 6,000 soldiers would take part in the operation, in addition to the 16,000 already stationed in flood-hit areas, bringing the total figure close to 20,000.

Ponad 16 tys. żołnierzy zaangażowanych jest w niesienie pomocy dla poszkodowanych. W weekend będzie to już ponad 20 tys. Kluczowe, obok ratowania życia i zdrowia, jest umacnianie wałów z wykorzystaniem śmigłowców zrzucających big bagi – często także w nocy.

Rusza operacja… pic.twitter.com/v6stwJtTDH

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) September 19, 2024

He also announced the formation of a Territorial Defense Forces unit in the southwestern Opole region, which will be stationed in Nysa.

Repairing infrastructure

Kosiniak-Kamysz also vowed that Głuchołazy, another flood-struck town, would see its destroyed bridges restored in the days to come.

Głuchołazy to jedno z pierwszych miejsc dotkniętych powodzią. Rozmowy z mieszkańcami przeszyte są emocją i potrzebą wsparcia. Wojsko pracuje tu kolejny dzień. @terytorialsi pomagają w oczyszczaniu mieszkań i miasta. Wojska inżynieryjne budują most tymczasowy. Nie zostawimy nikogo… pic.twitter.com/gZoNSpi4Qf

— Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz (@KosiniakKamysz) September 19, 2024

He said that before constructing temporary bridges, engineering troops are working to clear and prepare the area, adding: “This is the most difficult part of this project.”