Despite warnings of deadly danger, hundreds of people are skating and walking on the frozen Motława River in Gdańsk.
Exceptionally Cold Winter Creates Popular but Dangerous Ice
An exceptionally cold winter has caused not only lakes and reservoirs to freeze over, but also the Motława and parts of the Gdańsk Bay. Over the past two weekends, the frozen river has been absolutely crowded. Walkers, skaters, and even cyclists have been using the ice, despite clear warnings from authorities.
Although temperatures dropped to as low as -20 degrees Celsius, firefighters emphasize that the ice on the river and in sea waters is not uniform in thickness and can break unexpectedly.
Fire Department: Ice on the River is Unpredictable
A spokesperson for the Gdańsk Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service, Brig. Jacek Jakóbczyk, notes that firefighters have not measured ice thickness on the Motława and cannot guarantee its safety.
He particularly warns that areas near bridges, hydraulic structures, outlets of stormwater channels, and places where holes were previously cut can have much thinner ice that won’t support weight.
Thickness Differences Can Be Surprising
Firefighters point out that even on a small area of ice, there can be large differences in its thickness. If in one place there is 20 centimeters of ice, in another, at the same temperature, there might be half as much.
Particularly dangerous are periods of thaw and refreezing, when ice may look solid but is actually much weaker than before.
Race Against Time
Firefighters remind that in icy water, a person has very little time to survive – only about 4 minutes for an adult. The Fire Service does not conduct patrols along the river, with police and municipal guards using megaphones to appeal to people to get off the ice.
Police Warn: This is a Deadly Threat
Gdańsk police are conducting checks in the area of the frozen Motława and remind that being on ice always involves risk. Officers emphasize that ice thickness is variable, and falling into icy water can lead to rapid hypothermia and death.
They appeal to use only designated and safe skating rinks.
Prime Minister Among Those on the Ice
Despite the danger, crowds continue to walk on the frozen river. Prime Minister Donald Tusk shared footage from above the river online, praising the city as “the best place in the world.” However, even in his recording, many people can be seen walking on the frozen surface.
