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Flooding Threatens the Auschwitz Memorial |
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Contributed by ps/b2/jarmen
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Tuesday, 18 May 2010 |
 The site of the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp and extermination center is in the area at risk of flooding caused by recent heavy rains in southern Poland. In view of the flood warning, the Museum has decided to close its gates to visitors and to take steps to safeguard the collections, archives, and the specialist equipment in the conservation laboratories.
 In response to the high level of the waters of the River Soła, which flows next to the Auschwitz I site, the Museum has carried out the “internal evacuation” of valuable historical objects and archival records on the ground floors of the original camp buildings. They have been carried upstairs and placed under additional protective measures.
There are significant amounts of standing water at the Auschwitz II-Birkenau site, and the level of the Pławianka, a stream running nearby, remains high.
Museum specialists are constantly monitoring the situation in the area around the Museum, and are in continual contact with the local government emergency staff.
The Museum will remain closed to visitors at least through May 19. Subsequent decisions will depend on weather conditions. It is already known, however, that the standing water there means that some parts of the Birkenau site will remain off-limits to visitors for a longer period. The Museum website will carry updated information on the situation at the Memorial. |
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