Following a crisis management meeting in Wrocław, Tusk confirmed that European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had requested details on the equipment, personnel, and technology Poland requires.
“Nothing should be forced, but if there is a need, please take advantage of these opportunities,” Tusk urged, emphasizing the support offered by the EU.
The Prime Minister also highlighted discussions with his counterparts in neighboring countries also affected by flooding and expressed concern about the situation in the Czech Republic, where heavy flooding is causing widespread devastation.
“Prime Minister Petr Fiala was very concerned about what is happening south of our border,” Tusk said. He added that Slovakia faces more localized issues while also experiencing severe weather, according to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.
Days of torrential rain have made rivers burst their banks and brought destruction to towns in Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. Evacuations have been introduced in Poland’s Paczków and Lewin Brzeski in the Opolskie province, while 54 municipalities in the Dolnośląskie province have announced a flood alert. Officials in Wrocław, the region’s capital, have said that the culmination wave is expected to reach the city on Friday, September 20.
Authorities of Ostrava, a Czech city located 35 kilometers from the border with Poland, have announced the evacuation after water broke through the right Oder riverbank.
So far, 16 people have been reported killed: seven in Romania, five in Poland, three in the Czech Republic, and one in Austria.
Poland has called a state of natural disaster with the worst-hit areas in the country, including Lower Silesia and the Opole region, in the south-west, where critical infrastructure, including a dam and a bridge, has been destroyed by rising waters.
Meanwhile, severe weather continues to wreak havoc in Hungary. A powerful cyclone moved over Lake Balaton on Monday night, bringing hurricane-force winds of up to 130 km/h, according to the meteorological station in Fonyód.
Efforts are underway to prepare for the flood peak along the Danube, with mobile flood barriers set up in Szentendre and Visegrád near Budapest, as well as sandbags being prepared in several locations.
In Austria, the flood situation continues to pose challenges but is now under control. Efforts are underway to systematically clear the damage caused by water and strong winds.
The flooding continues to affect regions across Poland, with government officials closely monitoring the situation.
