Poland issues wind alert for nine regions
Poland’s Government Security Centre (RCB) on Friday issued a high wind alert for nine of its 16 regions, advising the public to secure their belongings against extreme weather and warning of possible power outages.
Photo:PAP/DPA/Sina Schuldt
The strong wind alert has been issued for central Poland and other parts of the country for Friday evening and night, state news agency PAP reported.
The warning covers parts of Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Mazowieckie, Wielkopolskie, Śląskie, Dolnośląskie, Opolskie, Łódzkie, Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Pomorskie provinces.
On Friday, authorities sent out text messages to residents in these regions, warning them of expected „strong winds in the evening and during the night” and possible cuts in the power supply.
„Please secure your belongings against the wind,” the message said.
In case of an emergency, citizens were asked to call the 112 helpline or the fire service, the PAP news agency reported.
Meanwhile, Europe on Friday grappled with the impact of Storm Ciarán, which has led to at least 13 deaths across the continent, Britain’s broadcaster BBC reported.
The storm caused chaos and widespread flooding across Europe, including Italy, Spain, Belgium, the UK, France, the Netherlands and Croatia, according to news outlets.
In Italy’s central Tuscany region, Storm Ciarán killed six people and caused enormous damage, the PAP news agency reported.
On Friday, record-breaking rainfall swept away cars on Tuscany’s roads, the UK’s The Independent newspaper reported.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared a state of emergency for the worst-hit areas.
In Spain, a wildfire whipped up by storm winds burned some 2,000 hectares of land near the eastern town of Montitxelvo, forcing the evacuation of 850 people, according to officials.
Valencia regional president Carlos Mazón urged people to avoid travel in the area or activities in forests that could start fires, The Independent reported.
Winds of 207 kph were recorded on the north-west coast of France, as Storm Ciarán also lashed Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as the Atlantic coast of Spain and Portugal.
A five-year-old child was one of two people killed in Belgium by falling trees, the BBC reported.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, The Independent, BBC
