Warsaw, Dec 28, (dpa/GNA) – The Polish Baltic coast was roiled by storms and flooding particularly around Gdansk, putting pressure on the fire service on Saturday and Sunday, according to reports by the PAP news agency and Polish TV stations.
Emergency workers were called out nationwide mainly due to fallen trees, but flood warnings were also issued.
In the Pomerania region, residents received notifications on their mobile phones warning them to be cautious outdoors.
The situation was particularly bad directly along the Baltic Sea coast and on the old estuary of the Vistula River known as the “Dead Vistula” (Martwa Wisla), now a harbour channel.
The storms caused the direction of the water flow to reverse in parts of the Vistula estuary delta, TV channel TVN24 reported, citing the fire brigade.
“Due to the very strong north wind, water from the Baltic Sea is being pushed inland. This is leading to backwater and thus to a dangerous rise in the water level in the rivers,” a reporter said.
The city of Elblag was also under acute threat of flooding because the river of the same name rose dangerously, likewise due to water flowing back from the Baltic Sea, according to local authorities.
GNA