Pomerania is grappling with severe flooding after experiencing rainfall equivalent to an entire month’s July norm in a single day, leading to widespread disruptions and emergency responses across the region.
Minister of the Interior and Administration Marcin Kierwiński visited Pomerania, including Żuławy Wiślane and the Nowodworski poviat, to assess the escalating situation. He was accompanied by Chief Commander of the State Fire Service, Nadbigadier Wojciech Kruczek.
“Services work all the time – firefighters, police where they can help,” Kierwiński stated, acknowledging the difficulty of the situation but assuring it remained under control.
- Pomerania faces severe flooding due to extreme rainfall.
- Emergency services are actively responding to aid affected areas.
- Historic sites like Malbork Castle were threatened by rising waters.
- Hundreds of children from scout camps were evacuated as a precaution.
Heavy Rains Cause Widespread Flooding
A particularly serious situation has unfolded in Nowy Dwór Gdański, where local authorities are distributing sandbags to residents, enabling them to secure their properties. The area is also receiving additional support in the form of water pumps from Chojnice and Słupsk, and a “Pluto downpour” from the Kartuzy poviat.
Dramatic scenes are emerging from Tolkmicka and Suchacz, where rainwater is surging through streets, inundating basements, roads, and private properties.
Malbork also experienced a critical situation, with flowing water threatening the basements of the outer ward at Malbork Castle. These lower levels house the Castle Museum Library’s collections of valuable and unique publications.
Fortunately, security personnel and firefighters responded swiftly. They worked to secure the lower floors of the outer ward and pump out excess water. Janusz Trupinda, Director of the Castle Museum, confirmed that the situation was under control and no threat remained.
Emergency Measures and Preventative Evacuations
In Gdańsk, a meeting of the Municipal Crisis Management Team was convened to evaluate the readiness of municipal services. The city has proactively prepared sandbags for residents to use.
The extent of the rainfall was significant. Before midnight on Monday, numerous measuring stations recorded that the day’s precipitation matched the entire monthly norm for July.
As a preventative measure due to weather forecasts, three of the nine scout camps situated on the Vistula Spit were evacuated. A total of 277 children were moved to the Primary School building in Sztutowo. Captain Anna Piechowska, press officer for the District Commander of the State Fire Service in Nowy Dwór Gdański, clarified these were not rescue operations but precautionary measures.
