The China Mail - Mud, loss and despair after Polish floods

The walls inside were sweating, while outside the building the family's possessions were scattered by the waters unleashed by Storm Boris, which wreaked havoc this month on central Europe.

At least 24 people died in Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and Romania from the flooding let loose by high winds and unusually heavy rainfall.

"It's indescribable what happened. This unimaginable rush of water that swept away everything in its path... ruthlessly," Agata Pioro told AFP.

The married couple and their daughters, 10 and 14, were at home when disaster struck. Powerless, they watched the water carry away their furniture, the fridge, the washing machine, their lives.

"To lose everything we've accumulated over the years so quickly, and to have our children witness it all, that will forever remain etched in their memory," Agata said, close to tears.

The building's foundations were unearthed by the waves, leading authorities to condemn the house.

The family left to stay with friends, but later returned to salvage what they could of their possessions.

"The water was flowing through the walls," said Sebastian Pioro, as he pointed at a stain about a metre (three feet) off the ground.

- Torrent -

The Biala river, which normally flows around 50 metres from their home, overflowed on September 15.

In just a matter of hours, the waters descended upon the picturesque town of Glucholazy, which was founded in the Middle Ages and has around 14,000 residents.

"It unleashed a real torrent, which suddenly spread across the main square," mayor Pawel Szymkowicz told AFP.

"Never before in the town's history did the water reach the square, even during the 1997 floods," he said.

The waters swept away two bridges, destroyed homes and schools and damaged every road they encountered.

Several wrecked cars stuffed with broken branches were strewn about the riverbank near the Pioros' house.

In terms of the town's infrastructure alone, there is around 250 million zloty ($65 million) in damage done, according to initial estimates, Szymkowicz said.

Poland's government said it had 23 billion zloty -- of national and European funds -- to help the areas affected recover and rebuild.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen last week announced 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in funds for member nations reeling from the "heartbreaking" devastation.

- 'Uncertainty' -

Hundreds of volunteers from across Poland have descended on Glucholazy to help residents clean their homes, and to distribute food such as bread and soup, while soldiers clear basements of the mud.

Almost all of this tourist town's businesses remain closed.

"I was lucky: I only got half a metre of water. I hope to reopen tomorrow or the day after," said Artur, owner of a natural medicine shop.

"But some of my neighbours say they won't ever reopen. They're unable to recover after the water ruined their businesses," the man in his 40s told AFP.

Also entrepreneurs, Agata and Sebastian Pioro fear for the future of their two menswear shops, one of which was practically wiped out.

"The worst is the uncertainty. We don't even know if we'll be able to live here because the house is half destroyed," Agata said, adding that she was concerned about future floods.

"Sometimes I think about finding my family another place on earth."

S.Davis--ThChM