Zachodnio-Pomorskie

5th February 2010

The area of the greatest threat appears to lie along the lower Odra and the Jezioro Dabski region Share:

Polish and German icebreakers are struggling to break through the floes in the Odra river that runs along the border of the two countries in order to avert the possibility of dangerous flooding when the thaw arrives. The area of the greatest threat appears to lie along the lower Odra and the Jezioro Dabski region which surrounds Szczecin.

On Tuesday a team of seven icebreakers was battling with ice up to 40cm thick, several kilometres long, but the operation was suspended as the pack ice refused to flow into the sea, probably as a result of local currents and the lack of movement along the waterway. Andrzej Kreft, of the Water Management Authority, with almost 20 years experience in battling with ice commented to reporters from TVN24, “I can’t remember a situation like it.” Experts are hoping for a slow rise in temperatures, that will enable the accumulated water to flow normally. The likelihood of flooding increases with the rate of thaw and increases further if accompanied by fresh rainfall.