Floods in the Czech Republic Leave Thousands of Homes Without Electricity and Force Evacuations
Firefighters build anti-flood barriers on the bank of the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic, 13 September 2024. Photo: EFE/EPA/MARTIN DIVISEK
September 14, 2024 Hour: 1:53 pm
The Czech Republic’s rainy storm this Saturday left 63,000 homes without electricity and forced an evacuation of a hospital in Brno, as authorities prepare to evacuate thousands of people in the northeast of the country, the area most affected by this cold front.
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Según el servicio meteorológico checo CHMU, en las últimas horas se han registrado entre 100 y 170 milímetros de lluvia en las áreas más afectadas del país, y el nivel de los ríos seguirá aumentando durante todo el fin de semana.
Authorities estimate that these types of floods occur in the Center European country only every 50 to 100 years.
The eastern regions of Olomouc and Moravia-Silesia have today declared a state of emergency after reaching the highest level of river activity in the rivers Cerna Opava, Porubka, Bela and Opava.
In the city of Brno, authorities evacuated some 180 patients from the Brothers of Mercy hospital due to the overflow of the Svrátka river, which began leaking into the sewer system, according to the CTK news agency.
In the tourist resort of Spindleruv Mlyn, located about 135 kilometres north-east of Prague, the council urged visitors to leave the city because of the rising tide of the Elbe river, which threatens to cut off the only access road.
River traffic in Prague has been suspended, as it is expected that the Vltava will reach 1,000 cubic metres of water per second on Sunday evening.
In the community of Siroka Niva, in the eastern district of Bruntal, some 40 people were evacuated as a precaution.
Meanwhile, in the town of Visnova, 53 kilometres south-west of the capital, firefighters are working with off-road trucks to access flood-affected areas.
Autor: ACJ
Fuente: EFE
