POLAND: DEATH TOLL RISES TOWARDS 5O AS FLOODS CONTINUE TO SWAMP LARGE AREAS OF SOUTHERN POLAND

Record ID: 207705

  • Title: POLAND: DEATH TOLL RISES TOWARDS 5O AS FLOODS CONTINUE TO SWAMP LARGE AREAS OF SOUTHERN POLAND
  • Date: 21st July 1997
  • Summary: WROCLAW, POLAND (JULY 20, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF FLOODED RIVER ODRA (4 SHOTS) 0.28 2. LV PEOPLE QUEUEING TO COLLECT WATER FROM TRAIN 0.35 3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN QUEUE (2 SHOTS) 0.46 4. TV/SCU/SV PEOPLE COLLECTING WATER (3 SHOTS0 1.00 5. SLV MAN WALKING AWAY DOWN RAILWAY BANK WITH BOTTLES OF WATER
  • Embargoed: 5th August 1997 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: WROCLAW, POLAND
  • City:
  • Country: Poland
  • Reuters ID: LVA3IUGDM6B4LCAAEO2HZPG99CPM
  • Story Text: INTRO: Floods in Poland have killed almost 50 people, swamped 4,000 square kilometers and hit a thousand villages and population centres such as the major cities of Wroclaw and Opole.

    The people of Wroclaw continued cleaning up on Sunday (July 20) after the River Odra flooded it's banks and swamped areas of the city in several feet of water.

    A new alert was declared on Sunday along the Odra river, which swept flood water north after rains about two weeks ago.

    People queued for hours on Sunday to collect fresh water supplies from makeshift distribution points along local railway lines.

    Piles of discarded furniture and flooring littered the streets of Wroclaw as residents threw out ruined belongings.

    One man complained that although help was available, only those people with time on their hands could find it.

    The government, accused by the opposition of doing too little too slowly at the start of the flooding, was flinging resources and personnel, including around 45,000 troops and 80 helicopters, into relief and rescue efforts.

    Polish soldiers at Wroclaw airport helped in organising the distribution of essential water and food supplies to affected areas.

    A special government body set up to combat the effects of the disaster promised to have its first draft plan ready by Tuesday.


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