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Floods in southwest Poland eliminate one, force evacuations

A single person drowned and 1,600 individuals were evacuated in Klodzko county in southwest Poland as local rivers broke record high levels causing flooding in numerous towns after days of heavy rainfall.

The circumstance is really significant, it's most significant in Klodzko county, Prime Minister Donald Tusk informed press reporters on Sunday after meeting with the crisis management team in Klodzko town.

Some 17,000 households in the county were left without power and mobile connections were not offered in some locations. Roadway access to the towns of Ladek Zdroj and Stronie Slaskie was virtually cut off, Tusk said.

Klodzko, a town of 25,000, was partly under water as the local river rose to 665 cm, well above the alarm level of 240, and surpassing a record seen in heavy flooding in 1997, which partially harmed the town and claimed 56 lives in Poland.

I'm requiring citizens to comply with rescue services where calls for evacuation are provided, Tusk said.

In the historical town of Glucholazy, in neighbouring Opole province, the mayor ordered mandatory evacuation on Sunday early morning as the local river began overflowing the banks.

Firefighters, local authorities and soldiers have actually been battling considering that Saturday to protect a bridge in the town, putting cobble stones on top of the building and construction to make it heavier and more resistant.

Firemens have been operating in south-western Poland because the start of the weekend to assist include the flooding.

More rain is forecast for Sunday and Monday, worsening the circumstance.

(source: Reuters)