- Title: GERMANY: Flood preparations along Polish border
- Date: 28th May 2010
- Summary: RATZDORF, GERMANY (MAY 27, 2010) (REUTERS) AERIAL OF ODER RIVER SEPARATING GERMANY (ON LEFT) AND POLAND, FLOODED FIELDS ON EITHER SIDE AERIAL OF WATER LEVEL CHECKPOINT NEAR SHORE IN RATZDORF VARIOUS TRACKING SHOT ALONG ODER RIVER, LOOKING TO POLAND FRANKFURT/ODER, GERMANY (MAY 27, 2010) (REUTERS) AERIAL OF FRANKFURT/ODER AND BRIDGE LEADING TO POLISH TOWN OF SLUBICE ON OTHER SIDE OF ODER RIVER
- Embargoed: 12th June 2010 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Germany
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVAEXMRJ5JA2JBVU4BBAI0VMBHM3
- Story Text: Water levels along eastern Germany's river Oder continued to rise on Thursday (May 27) and are soon expected to reach marks last seen in 1997 when several towns and large parts of farmland were flooded.
In the village of Ratzdorf, the Oder level stood at 6.17 metres as firefighters and local officials stacked sandbags and pine tree branches along the riverbed.
Firefighter Kai Hoszbach said he and his team were confronted with ever-changing information on how quickly the water rose.
"So far, the dams are robust and we are trying our best so that it stays that way," Hoszbach said.
Matthias Platzeck, the state premier of Brandenburg which borders Poland, was seen touring the area on a motorboat as officials pointed out critical sites.
In recent days, floods have burst riverbanks and submerged homes in neighbouring Poland and German officials say they are keeping a close eye on the situation.
In 1997, large parts along the Oder river were flooded after which the German government invested millions of euros to reinforce the dams. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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