Polish police and city officials warn of unsafe swimming conditions, close popular lakes

Police in Gniezno warned residents that rising temperatures are driving more people to swim in lakes and rivers, but many water bodies lack lifeguard supervision. Officers emphasized that a moment’s inattention can lead to tragedy and listed seven safety rules, including using designated bathing areas, avoiding alcohol, supervising children at all times, checking weather forecasts, and wearing life‑vests.

In Kraków, the Zakrzówek swimming area—often called the “little Croatia”—was shut down just hours after the official start of the swimming season on 1 June. A suspicious suspension appeared in the water and tests identified a chemical consistent with an acidic rust‑removing agent. The city fire brigade, the site’s manager and the health authority (Sanepid) began investigations and kept the site closed while further water analyses were conducted. The closure coincided with a long weekend, affecting thousands of tourists and locals who had been limited to about 600 visitors at a time under a badge‑entry system. Lifeguards normally operate daily until 19:00 during the season, which runs to 30 September.