Army ready to step in as Poland faces flood danger

Eight thousand soldiers equipped with boats, amphibian craft, helicopters and bulldozers are ready to fight flooding in Poland as temperatures are expected to rise following heavy snowfall, Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak has said.

Territorial Army soldiers reinforce flood defences in Płock, central Poland, last week.

Photo: PAP/Szymon Łabiński

Forecasters predict that, following a wintry spell, the mercury will climb across the country towards the end of the week.

Snow which hit Poland in recent days is expected to start melting rapidly, posing a risk of local flooding.

The army will be brought if asked to help by local authorities, public broadcaster Polish Radio reported.

Territorial Army troops were deployed to help firefighters reinforce embankments on the Vistula River last week after an accumulation of ice caused flooding in the central city of Płock.

(pk)

Source: IAR