Polish government orders school closures in three voivodeships as country braces for coldest night of winter.
Ministry: Schools Closed in Three Voivodeships
On Sunday, February 1st, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Wiesław Szczepański participated in a briefing with services called due to extreme cold in Poland. The meeting included voivodes, police commanders, State Fire Service representatives, and officials from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management as well as the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways.
“In three voivodeships, classes will be canceled starting tomorrow [Monday, February 2nd],” said the deputy minister. “In the Mazowieckie Voivodeship, several dozen schools will be affected. In the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship, where schools are poorly heated, some facilities will also remain closed. In the Pomorskie Voivodeship, in Kwidzyn, a decision has also been made to close schools, and school superintendents are waiting for further announcements to make final decisions.”
Service Briefing: “The Coldest Night is Ahead of Us”
The deputy head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration emphasized that the situation is under control and that places have been provided for those in need to warm up. “Before us is the coldest night. We appeal to all services to search through vacant buildings and sheds and persuade people staying there to move to places where they can warm up,” said Szczepański.
Starting tomorrow, selected tents in Warsaw and Radom, which previously operated limited hours, will be open 24 hours. In total, on Saturday and Sunday, the State Fire Service activated 15 such tents with heaters. Railway and bus stations are also to be open around the clock. A government representative assured that all services are fully prepared.
The services reported that at least 38 people have died from hypothermia this winter. The deputy minister of MSWiA added that the ministry is verifying two more possible cases of death caused by low temperatures. 54 people died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
IMGW Forecasts the Coldest Night of the Year
The Institute of Meteorology and Water Management has issued warnings for severe cold covering almost the entire country. Except for the southwest and western edges of Poland, air temperatures may range from -20 to -30 degrees Celsius. Forecasters predict that the very low temperatures will persist until Wednesday, February 4th.
“Such conditions pose a real threat to life and health. Let’s take care of our own safety, the safety of our loved ones, and of people in need of help, including those experiencing homelessness,” warns IMGW.
