Czech news in brief for September 19: Thursday's top headlines

According to Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda, the city has started to dismantle flood defenses in certain areas due to a decrease in the flow of the Vltava river. However, Prague's main embankment (Náplavka) will remain closed until the flow in the Vltava falls to 450 cubic meters per second – it is currently at 700. The public is still advised to be cautious as the risk of flooded surfaces and falling trees remains. The city’s flood commission will next meet on Monday, Sept. 23.

Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura this afternoon announced that the Finance Ministry will amend this year's state budget due to the floods, leading to a deficit increase of CZK 30 billion, to CZK 282 billion in total. Next year's budget will also see a CZK 10 billion increase in expenditure, with a projected deficit of CZK 240 billion. Prime Minister Petr Fiala today held talks in Poland with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on possible extended European support.

The Czech-German Future Fund will finance 116 new projects and contribute CZK 16.8 million, its organizers say. Many of these projects will mark the centenary of Prague-born writer Franz Kafka and prepare for the city of Chemnitz’s European Capital of Culture status next year. Co-chairmen Rita Hagl-Kehl and Jindřich Fryč emphasized that this partnership signals a new level of Czech-German cooperation. The fund which last year marked its 25th anniversary, was born out of the Czech-German Declaration of 1997. This was a fundamental document that opened a new and friendly chapter in the then still complex Czech-German relations.

Defense Ministry spokesman Karel Čapek announced that nearly 500 Czech soldiers and 80 pieces of equipment are currently deployed for flood recovery efforts, with an American MQ-9 Reaper drone and two Czech army helicopters also assisting. After government approval, up to 2,000 soldiers may be mobilized. Most aid is focused on Opava, Bruntál, and Jeseník in the east of the country. "As the water is gradually receding, the affected villages are now accessible and we can send aid to them by land," a spokesperson for the city of Ostrava said.

A bus fell off a bridge onto railway tracks near Tržnice in Karlovy Vary this morning following a collision with a passenger car, according to firefighters. Rescue teams are on-site, but further details about the accident are still being gathered. Rail traffic between Karlovy Vary and Karlovy Vary Dolní nádraží stations has been halted as a result of the incident.

Floods in the Czech Republic have claimed a fifth victim, Interior Minister Vít Rakušan confirmed on CNN Prima News. A 70-year-old woman's body was discovered Wednesday, and eight others remain missing. The floods have caused extensive damage, particularly in the Moravian-Silesian region, where 37,000 households are without power. Reconstruction efforts will take years, with Ostrava and Opava suffering billions in damages to infrastructure and utilities.

President Petr Pavel visited Northern Moravia and Silesia to assess flood damage, stating recovery will take months to years. He urged the government to support mayors with financial aid and assistance in organizing upcoming elections. Pavel also called for faster demolition efforts and simplified tender procedures to expedite rebuilding. His unannounced visit covered flood-stricken areas including Bohumín, Opava, and Jeseník, with a focus on power outages and housing for displaced residents.

The Czech government approved a pension increase starting January, raising the average monthly old-age pension by CZK 358 to CZK 21,060. All recipients of old-age, disability, and survivor pensions will receive an additional CZK 260, with the merit portion rising by 0.6 percent. The pension increase will cost the state CZK 12.3 billion. Despite the adjustment, the pension insurance system is expected to remain in deficit through 2025.

ČEZ Distribuce reported 71 high-voltage line faults due to floods, leaving approximately 35,000 customers without power. Spokesperson Soňa Holingerová said thousands of households were reconnected today, but restoration in flooded areas requires electrical checks. By 9 p.m., 452 substations were still without power, but key facilities like Krnov hospital were reconnected. Workers continue efforts to restore electricity to all affected areas by Friday.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Slovak counterpart Juraj Blanar disagreed on Ukraine's NATO membership after talks in Bratislava. Sybiha argued it guarantees peace, while Blanar said it would lead to more conflict, though Slovakia respects Ukraine’s right to choose. Slovakia supports Ukraine's EU ambitions and continues humanitarian aid but halted military supplies. Both governments plan a joint meeting in October to discuss further cooperation.

The Czech Medical Chamber and health unions will reiterate their demands for wage increases at a press conference today. If unmet, they may urge healthcare workers to reject hospital overtime by late October. A Sept. 26 meeting with Health Minister Vlastimil Válek is planned. Unions claim the government’s proposed wage law, while a step forward, fails to meet all demands, including salary parity between state and private hospitals.