The main bridge across the Bialka
River linking the towns of Bukowina Tatrzanska and Czarna Gora
in Polish Spisz gave way on July 25, 2008 after many days of
heavy rains. The Bialka River served for centuries here as the
dividing line between Slovakia and Poland before the border change
of 1920.
The Bialka River racing north
toward Trybsz, Poland and loaded with debris from fallen and
uprooted trees. At this location the river in summer is usually
a popular suning and swimming spot and can be crossed easily
by wading across.
All creeks flowing out of the Tatras
were tunred into muddy torrents, their waters even flowing around
the forrest trees near its banks.
Even the smallest village brooks
overtopped their bridges in this region.
Officals did everything they could
to divert water away from tourist lodging in Zakopane, Poland,
but had difficulty keeping up with the storms.
Zakopane's Goral statue looked
like Moses parting the Red Sea.
The grassy banks of the river
park through Nowy Targ, Poland were under water as brown flood
waters streched from embankment to embankment.
Roadways became rivers and stranded
vehicles like this delivery van in Zakopane.
Locals became stranded as low spots became creeks.
Eroding hillsides threatened roads
everywhere like this one in Slovakia near the Polish border.
Volunteers filling sandbags in
Zdiar, Slovakia.
Efforts in Zdiar hold back swollen
Biela creek.
Hardest hit were the areas around
Stara L'ubovna, Slovakia. Two people died near there in the village
of Circ.
Though not in Eastern
Europe, it is ironic that a month ago in June 2008 (on Friday
the 13th) powerful storms in the Midwestern U.S. flooded the
National Czech & Slovak Museum and Library as well as the
adjacent Czech Village in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. President Clinton,
Czech President Vaclav Havel and Slovakia's President Michal
Kovac all attended the dedication here in 1995. The Czech and
Slovak governments together have now promised $1 million dollars
to help begin rebuilding the complex.
For more information and pictures about the Summer 2008 flooding in Poland and Slovakia please see our July 2008 e-Newsletter issue HERE and also visit the following websites:
Slovak News Coverage and Stories:
http://www.tasr.sk/30.axd?k=20080724TBB00574Pictures from Zdiar, Slovakia:
http://www.zdiar.sk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=197&Itemid=1Pictures from Polish Spisz:
http://www.jurgow.pl/jurgow_powodz2008_zdjecia.htmlSlovinky video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQNjB4MRr3QPictures from the Kosice region of Slovakia:
http://www.aktuality.sk/spravy/domace/torysa-klesa-hornad-sa-stabilizovalNational Czech & Slovak museum News Story:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080713/LIFE/807130301/1039/LIFEZakopane Flooding Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twaWq2Qjnxw&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyrL8PAImF8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4tSiLtQh8g&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZBQiTHmkiY&feature=related
Ludzmierz Flooding Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTD1bC9UnuQ&feature=relatedSromowce Wyzne Dam Video on the Dunajec:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJDQYtvFfi4&feature=relatedReport and Footage of Slovak Flooding for Czech TV:
http://aktualne.centrum.sk/video/?id=953833Footage of Flooding in Bardejov, Slovakia:
http://aktualne.centrum.sk/video/?id=953785http://aktualne.centrum.sk/video/?id=953833
(Thank you to Lucjan Soltys for contributing greatly to this report.)
To see pictures and information on the devastating windstorm in the Slovak Tatras in November 2004, click HERE.
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