Hundreds of residents in Oława, supported by WOT soldiers, are actively building up and reinforcing the embankments along the Oder. The water gauge under the bridge on Chrobry Street reads 7.4 meters, and this morning it had fallen by about ten centimeters. The people insist they will defend the city, standing firm against the rising current and the pressure that comes with it.
The bridge over the Oder at the Chrobry–Rybacka crossing serves as the route toward Jelcz-Laskowice. Behind the bridge toward Jelcz lies the Zaodrze district, where Nadbrzeżna Street runs along the riverbank. The embankments there are lined with sandbags, stacked in dense rows and layered one after another, forming a protective barrier against the river’s advance.
Zaodrze residents have been at work for the third day, turning yards and small squares into makeshift fortifications. Volunteers of all ages rotate shifts, loading sacks, stacking them high, and inspecting every segment of the barrier to catch a gap before the water tests it again.
Yesterday until three in the morning, a resident recalled, crews kept at it through the night. The air carried the steady clack of bags being closed, the soft rustle of sand, and the warm camaraderie of neighbors sharing a hot drink to keep up the pace.
The residents from Zaodrze and nearby areas emphasize that they will save their homes and the neighborhood. They speak seriously about the threat, yet they also share jokes to ease the tension as the river presses closer and the work continues unabated.
When flood risk spikes, the whole neighborhood is on alert and everyone pitches in, reinforcing the dikes, ferrying bags, and keeping spirits up even when the wind turns chilly or the light fades.
The mobilization is also taking place on the other side of the river, on Rybacka Street. There, WOT soldiers are placing sandbags near residents and coordinating the work so that barriers form a continuous line and flow toward the most exposed sections, all done with a practiced efficiency that comes from long hours of hard work.
Older people stop at the bridge now and then to look at the water meter. Before midday it indicated more than 7.4 meters, a reminder of the force facing the city. In the morning it was 10 centimeters lower, a small shift that still keeps everyone vigilant and ready to adjust the barriers as needed.
An elderly man showed the gauge and noted the morning dip of about ten centimeters, a momentary relief that does not erase the looming risk but helps shape the day’s planning.
PAP was also located in the Zwierzyńce district of Oława. This is a special area, a cluster of single‑family houses and small tenements nestled between the main riverbed of the Oder and the Mill Canal. Water from this canal flooded the riverside street, and residents there likewise worked to block the surge with sandbag barriers that now line the roadside.
The work is coordinated by local entrepreneur Robert Jaśnikowski. He describes the situation and notes a backflow on the Molenkanaal, indicating water moving opposite to the current and signaling how pressure is building along the canal network as the river swells.
He lives in the area with his family nearby and has taken a lead role, directing efforts and lending his own energy to help neighbors with the placement of sandbags and the organization of supplies as the city’s defenses take shape.
He said the situation was bad, perhaps worse than the flood in 2010, yet he remained determined to do everything possible to save this district and the city, rallying people around a common cause and stressing practical, on‑the‑ground action over rhetoric.
On Wednesday, a flood wave on the Odra River passed through Oława, and the city faced rising water as it pressed against the defenses and tested the resolve of those guarding the dikes.
The Racibórz Dolny reservoir’s status was reported as stabilizing after intercepting that flood wave, with water storage around 74.5 percent, a figure that influenced how the region managed its flood risk and allocated resources during the crisis.
Officials and local observers examined the flood relief effort and the communication surrounding it, noting that clear, timely coordination remains essential for effective protection and for keeping residents informed about evolving conditions.
In summary, the scene across Oława remains tense but purposeful as communities, volunteers, and authorities work side by side to limit damage and safeguard homes along the river’s edge. The day-to-day actions of countless ordinary people and the decisive role of organized teams together weave a narrative of resilience amid a serious flood threat.