Czech news in brief for August 16: Friday's top headlines

Amid wildfires in Greece presently, a spokesperson for the Czech Firefighters Association reported today that three teams from Czechia have been deployed to protect a high-risk fire area north of Athens. A total of 75 firefighters and rescue workers, 31 vehicles, and nine tankers arrived on Thursday. Authorities reported another fire in northwestern Greece, prompting 37 firefighters, nine vehicles, two aircraft, and a helicopter to respond. The spokesperson stated that the Czech firefighters are working in a sparsely populated and hilly area with strong winds.

The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a warning for strong thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, and wind gusts up to 70 kilometers per hour across the country on Saturday. Temperatures are expected to reach above 31 degrees Celsius, with a fire warning in effect for South Moravia. A slow-moving cold front will bring more precipitation and possible storms on Sunday. The high temperature warning in the capital will continue until 8 p.m. today. Temperatures in Prague will peak at around 29 degrees Celsius tomorrow.

According to the environmental department of the Dačice municipal office in South Bohemia, hundreds of fish in the Moravian Thaya River have died in the area due to sewage contamination. Local fishing association representative Lukáš Polena and firefighters are working to purify the water, but the fish population has been significantly affected. The highest concentration of sewage was found near the Dačice wastewater treatment plant, but the exact source is still unknown. The affected areas had a strong sewage odor and discolored water.

Czechia's 25th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment from Strakonice (South Bohemia) will join forces with the Slovak and Latvian armies in an international exercise in September the Czech Army has announced. Led by Lt. Col. Petr Rezníček, the regiment will test firing anti-aircraft missile systems and conduct helicopter drops in the Doupovské hory mountains. Rezníček expressed gratitude for the Latvian support and said he looks forward to returning the favor by hosting the Latvian soldiers in the Czech Republic.

Passenger traffic at Prague's Václav Havel Airport is set to rise by 13 percent year-on-year, reaching 3.5 million in July and August. Greece tops the list of popular destinations, followed by Turkey, Spain, Egypt, and Tunisia. After earlier baggage handling issues in July, the situation has stabilized. In the first seven months of 2024, 9 million passengers traveled through the airport, with a year-end goal of 16 million.

The Czech Ministry of Local Development (MMR) has warned against the unlicensed company Expert Agency, which sells tours on the Slovak website dovolenpaprimori.eu. The agency lacks proper licensing and bankruptcy insurance, using forged documents to deceive customers. The MMR was alerted by a client and plans to involve the police. This is the second case of fraudulent travel agencies targeting Slovak customers this year, according to the MMR.

Hygienists have banned swimming in at least ten locations across the Czech Republic due to poor water quality, including Podolsk at the Orlík reservoir and the Skalka and Sedlice reservoirs. Cyanobacteria, which can cause allergic reactions, have worsened water quality, particularly in the Highlands. Meanwhile, bans were lifted in Prague’s Šeberák pond, though the water remains unsuitable for swimming. Some areas, like the Žermanice reservoir, saw slight improvements.

Prague criminal investigators are probing influencer Hana Gelnarová after she posted a video showing her and friends marching to German military music with raised right hands, against a backdrop featuring the German flag and Iron Cross symbol. Gelnarová has since deleted the video, claiming it was a “majorette" performance. The incident has sparked controversy and legal scrutiny.

Czechs’ perception of pubs has evolved significantly over the past 15 years. They now view them more as cultural and social hubs rather than noisy, unhygienic spaces. A study by the Institute of Sociology's Center for Public Opinion Research highlights this shift, especially post-pandemic, when pubs are valued for fostering social ties. Negative aspects like smoke and noise have diminished, while positive attributes such as good refreshments and inclusivity have strengthened.