Violent winds and thunderstorms swept across Poland on Monday, prompting nearly 3,000 emergency calls to firefighters and leaving thousands without electricity.
Severe Storms Impact Poland
A mass outage was declared before 6 PM on Monday, April 6th, leaving approximately 8,000 customers in the Pomeranian Voivodeship without power, particularly around Wejherowo, Tczew, and Kartuzy. Around 2,500 customers in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship are also affected, with the Białogard area experiencing the most disruptions.
Energa Operator spokesperson Grzegorz Baran stated that repair crews are working to locate damage and restore power. The primary cause of the outages is falling tree branches damaging power lines.
Firefighter Response and Damage Reports
Firefighters responded to 208 incidents between Sunday and Monday at 4:30 PM, primarily removing fallen trees from roads and other transportation routes. The most interventions occurred in the Wejherowo, Słupsk, Puck, and Bytów counties.
A tree fell on a car in Bieszkowice (Wejherowo county), but no one was injured. In Korzybie (Słupsk county), a tree fell onto a railway line, temporarily halting a Regio train, which resumed its journey after the obstruction was cleared.
Wind Warnings in Effect
A Level 2 wind warning is in effect for the northern part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship (Lębork, Puck, Słupsk, Wejherowo counties, and the city of Słupsk) and the Sławno county in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship. Wind gusts could reach 85 km/h, and occasionally up to 95 km/h.
Over 500 Interventions in Lubelszczyzna Region
Firefighters in the Lubelszczyzna region responded to approximately 530 incidents related to the storms since Monday morning. One person was injured – a man was hospitalized after being struck by electricity from a downed power line. Over 7,000 residents in the region are without power.
The most difficult situation is in the northern part of the voivodeship, in the Białsk, Łuków, and Radzyń counties. Damage includes a roof section falling off a hospital building in Międzyrzec Podlaski, but no one was injured as the building is under renovation.
Electrocution Incidents Reported
In Bobrowniki (Ryki county), a man was electrocuted after touching a fence with downed power lines. Firefighters provided initial aid before transferring him to medical personnel. The man was conscious and transported to the hospital.
Impact in Łódź and Podkarpackie Regions
Firefighters in the Łódź Voivodeship responded to over 120 incidents. The most serious incident occurred in Łódź, where a falling branch injured the driver of a delivery truck, causing non-life-threatening head injuries. The storm also damaged three roofs in the region.
In the Podkarpackie Voivodeship, approximately 750 customers are without power due to damaged power lines, particularly around Krosno and Sanok. Firefighters responded to 119 incidents throughout the day, mainly removing fallen branches and debris from roads and sidewalks.
Safety Guidelines During Storms
The State Fire Service advises seeking shelter in a building during storms. Avoid standing under trees or light structures like bus or tram shelters. Residents are urged to remove loose objects from balconies and terraces.
Authorities have appealed to the public to stay indoors and avoid travel, especially to mountainous areas, warning that lightning strikes are often fatal or cause permanent disability.
If caught in a storm on the water, it is recommended to lower sails, leave boats, and secure them to shore. When driving, reduce speed and avoid wooded or built-up areas, as strong gusts can cause loss of control.
