– We haven’t seen this much water in Svartån in 36 years, said Johan Ahlström, risk engineer in the city of Västerås, earlier on Saturday.
During the day, barriers were set up at the town hall to protect it from the Svartån if it were to flood. At 5 p.m., Ahlström says that the situation looks brighter – the water level has dropped a few centimeters in the last few hours.
But other places along the river are also at risk, according to Ahlström.
About sixty holiday homes in Biskopsängen were already under water earlier on Saturday – and they risk being pulled out into the Svartån.
– It is so that when the water hopefully recedes, the risk of them being dragged along increases, says Ahlström.
If that happens, it can lead to the houses damming bridges, which can contribute to new flood areas.