Government pledges aid to flood victims

Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L) in Glucholazy, southern Poland. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

“The extraordinary solidarity and neighbourly behaviour shown by the people of Glucholazy sends a very positive signal about how to react in such situations,” he said.

“People deprived of help have the right to fall into a deep depression, as man cannot cope alone with such forces,” he said.

Torrential downpours culminating on Wednesday night caused widespread damage to the town and its environs, with over 100 hundred homes flooded, and roads and bridges damaged.

Tusk promised a non-refundable donation of up to 6000 zloty (1450 euros) to households affected by the floods.

He also assured that financial aid would be channelled towards the local infrastructure. In one incident on Wednesday night, a section of a road collapsed in Glucholazy, and a fire-engine fell into the cavity (pictured below).

In total, it has been estimated that damage to the town and its surroundings is in excess of 12 million zloty (2.89 million euros).

Poland has been lashed by storms this week, with heavy downpours across much of southern and central Poland. (nh)

Prime Minister Donald Tusk surveys some of the damage caused by Wednesday's deluge in Glucholazy, southern Poland. Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

Source: IAR/PAP