Thunderstorms flood streets and basements across southern Poland, firefighters respond to dozens of calls
Torrential rain from slow-moving thunderstorms flooded streets, basements and homes in Silesia and the Łódź region on Wednesday, prompting over 90 fire service interventions.
Severe thunderstorms brought torrential rain to southern Poland on Wednesday, causing flash floods that turned streets into fast-flowing streams and inundated buildings. The State Fire Service carried out dozens of interventions, mainly pumping water from flooded basements and roads.
Silesia bears the brunt
Silesia was the hardest-hit region, where second-level meteorological warnings were in force. Between 1 p.m. and 4:20 p.m., firefighters conducted 64 interventions across the area. Ruda Śląska recorded the highest number of incidents, with around 40 calls. Bytom saw 9, Będzin 8, and Zabrze 7.
From 3:14 p.m., the command post of the Municipal Commander of the State Fire Service received around 40 calls.
Strączek, press officer for the Municipal PSP in Ruda Śląska, added that calls were still coming in. Many reports concerned flooded basements and houses. The underpass near Dworcowa Street in Ruda Śląska was submerged, and firefighters were pumping water there. Kokota Street was also flooded, with operations ongoing. In Jastrzębie-Zdrój, Pszczyńska Street and parts of Gagarina Street were under water, and the city appealed to residents to stay safe.
Łódź region: cars stranded, bridge damaged
In the municipality of Działoszyn in Łódź province, 32 weather-related incidents were reported. Firefighters evacuated one driver and one child from each of three flooded cars. A small bridge was also damaged. Streets in the area turned into raging torrents.
- Ruda Śląska
- 40 interventions
- Bytom
- 9 interventions
- Będzin
- 8 interventions
- Zabrze
- 7 interventions
Warnings and conditions
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management warned of the dangerous weather. The Government Centre for Security issued alerts for the Śląskie and Opolskie provinces. The storms were described as moderate, accompanied by locally heavy rain and strong wind gusting to 70–80 kilometres per hour. The Sieć Obserwatorów Burz network noted that slow-moving, intense rainfall was a recipe for flooding, and that rain was still falling heavily in the south.
