Heavy rain has been falling steadily across almost the entire Czech Republic since Friday evening, which, together with overflowing rivers, is meeting meteorologists’ forecasts of a major flood, the peak of which is expected on Sunday. In several towns and villages across the country, evacuations have already begun, Czech Radio reported on Friday evening.
“The Czech Republic has a premonition of a flood that could cover the entire territory of the country. Heavy rain began everywhere on Friday, which meteorologists say will not stop until Monday evening. The water level in all rivers has risen significantly, and several mountain rivers have already burst their banks. Trees downed by strong winds and wet soil blocked roads and railways in some areas. Thousands of people were left without electricity. In some cities and towns, local government leaders began evacuating residents from flooded areas. In particular, in the republic’s second largest city, Brno (in the south-east of the country), students from several universities were evacuated from their residences surrounded by water.” – the message notes.
A day earlier, in his speech to his fellow citizens of the X network, Prime Petr Fiala He urged them to prepare for the worst flooding situation, which he compared in potential severity to the floods of 1997 and 2002. These then killed 50 and 17 people respectively and caused material damage (in Czech crowns) worth $2.8 billion in 1997 and $3.2 billion in 2002.
On Friday, at a press conference following a meeting of the Crisis Headquarters, both the Prime Minister and the head of the Ministry of the Interior Vit Rakushan He told reporters that the leaders of local authorities have been given the primary task of preventing the loss of life, as well as trying to preserve residential buildings. After all, their subsequent renovation, as past experience shows, lasts for many years and people are forced to huddle in other people’s walls, RIA Novosti recalls.
According to forecasts by the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (CHHMI), up to 300 millimetres of precipitation may fall in some places in the republic from Friday to Monday.
According to Rakushan, 100,000 firefighters have been on high alert since Friday. Thanks to their efforts, roads have now been cleared of fallen trees and large branches and power lines have been re-established. The firefighters are also actively assisted by military personnel.
