Czechia's extreme floods: Here's what you need to know

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, the number of areas affected by acute flooding in the Czech Republic has now decreased to 100. The state of danger remains in 26 places, mostly in south Bohemia. The Dyje, Morava, and lower Elbe rivers still have flood warnings.
The flood situation is slowly beginning to calm down in Czechia; there is no extreme danger anywhere in Czechia and the most serious situation is in South Bohemia, Prime Minister Petr Fiala has said after talks with representatives of the Moravia-Silesia Region in Ostrava Tuesday night.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan has announced that the Czech Republic has requested 15,000 dryers from the European civil aid system. The government is distributing 8,000 dryers from its own stocks to the affected regions.
On Thursday, Prague will start removing anti-flood barriers, among others, in Stromovec, Bubenč or Braník. Waterways will remain closed and shipping will be suspended.
According to the ČEZ and E.ON power distributors, about 45,000 customers in Czechia are currently without electricity due to weather and floods. This number has decreased from 260,000 on Sunday morning. A state of emergency is still in effect in 10 districts.
So far, about 330 soldiers have been involved in fixing the consequences of the flood destruction, and more are being deployed in the following hours, Defense Minister Jana Černochová said this morning.
During discussions with Moravia-Silesia region leaders, Czech Finance Minister Zbyněk Stanjura stated that based on past flood experiences, 25 percent of the total damage is typically covered by the state budget. He plans to quickly pass an amendment to this year's budget to address the current flood damage.
Due to damaged tracks, Czech Railways is now not running around 10 percent of trains. The north of Moravia is the worst-affected area. There are 16 track sections out of service.
President Petr Pavel is in Bohumín in Karviná today (near the Polish border to the far east of the country), accompanied by Jana Končítková, a spokesperson for the Bohumín town hall. They are inspecting the city, which was heavily affected by the recent flood and is currently without electricity. They will be visiting the destroyed area of Pudlov.
The D1 highway is now open for travel between Prague and Ostrava following the recent floods. The previous detour at the Bělotín exit has been lifted. The highway is also fully accessible in the opposite direction.
The Interior Ministry has announced that voters who lost their identity documents during the floods want to be able to have their identity cards issued within five working days free of charge.
The situation in Ostrava (Moravia-Silesia) is improving, but the city still lacks heat and hot water due to the flooded Třebovice power plant. Opava's Ratibořská Street bridge will be demolished. Five roads and a motorway in Moravia-Silesia and Olomouc are closed, while all roads in Zlín region are now open again.
The Czech Association of Insurance Companies has reported CZK 17 billion in insured damages from floods – half to households and half to businesses. Lesy ČR (Forests Czech Republic) has suffered property damages of over CZK 200 million. In 2002, the floods were the country's biggest catastrophe, with CZK 36.7 billion paid out.
According to the Czech Foreign Ministry, Slovenia has donated 10 large and 250 small dehumidifiers to aid with the recent floods. Last summer, Czech soldiers helped build temporary bridges in Slovenia after their own floods.
Opava, affected by heavy flooding, has 6,500 damaged buildings and no space for waste disposal, city spokesman Roman Konečný says. The city is searching for additional locations to store the vast amount of destroyed items.
Local municipalities predict that the Elbe and Bílina rivers will remain at their third stage of flooding for several more days. This will continue to cause traffic complications in Ústí nad Labem, with only designated detour routes accessible to cars and public transport vehicles. Delays and long queues are expected during peak hours.
The Ministry of Education has received requests from 37 schools to alter the school year due to the floods. In the Czech Republic, there are approximately 4,300 elementary schools and 1,300 secondary schools.
Firefighters in České Budějovice have started to dismantle part of the anti-flood walls; the worst is over in that area, authorities say.

According to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute, the threat of floods has decreased in the Czech Republic, with 137 locations still at risk as of 4 p.m. this afternoon. The South Bohemia region remains the worst affected.
Flood levels in the Czech Republic are gradually decreasing, with 179 locations affected this morning. Although water levels are falling in most areas, rivers like the Morava are expected to peak. South Bohemian authorities remain cautious, preparing for possible evacuations.
In South Moravia, third-level flood warnings persist for the Dyje, Svratka, and Morava rivers. Water levels are expected to gradually drop, but increased flow through Brno's reservoir may cause minor flooding in gardens and meadows. The situation is stable in most areas, with authorities managing water overflow to relieve riverbeds.
The city of Opava, led by mayor Tomáš Navrátil, has suffered severe damage due to the recent flooding. The estimated cost is in the billions of crowns, with multiple public areas destroyed, including the sports hall, football stadium, city gardens, and historic swimming pool. Hundreds of residents have also been affected, with their homes destroyed, Navrátil says.
The water level of the Morava River in Olomouc-Nový Sady has reached 492 cm, which is half a meter above the danger level. Despite flood protection measures, the Chomutov district has been flooded, with water reaching waist-high in some places. The town hall predicts that the water level will gradually decrease throughout the day. In addition, road closures and assistance for affected residents are being implemented.
Due to a technical fault at a power plant in the Brno Dam, the outflow from the reservoir has been reduced. This may cause the sluice gates to overflow in the afternoon, but the flow is expected to be harmless and not pose a threat to residents or homes. The water levels in Brno and other areas are currently at their peak and decreasing, with measures in place to manage the situation.
According to the Minister of the Environment, Petr Hladík, the flood situation in the Czech Republic will continue for several more days, with remaining rivers expected to peak on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Central Flood Commission has discussed the current situation, particularly on the Lužnica River, in Olomouc, and Moravia. The Minister of Agriculture, Marek Výborný, has assured that the situation in South Bohemia is stable and that the Rožmberk pond is still fulfilling its retention function.
Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek stated that flood-affected areas will receive free and voluntary vaccinations for type A jaundice. The State Institute of Health has also warned of increased risk of other infections in these areas. The crisis team is working to ensure medication delivery to flooded pharmacies. A government meeting addressed the need for free vaccinations against hepatitis A in vulnerable regions.
The Central Flood Commission announced that the confluence of the Vltava and Elbe rivers near Mělník (Central Bohemia) will peak today, with water levels expected to rise until Wednesday due to recent heavy rains. Hladík stated that the third and highest level of flood danger will persist for several days, and the commission will reconvene on Wednesday.
According to governor of the Moravia-Silesia region Josef Bělica, the damage from recent floods is estimated to be in the tens of billions of crowns. About 15,000 people have been evacuated and three victims have been reported. Three looting incidents have been recorded, with perpetrators facing up to 12 years in prison.
According to health insurance provider VZP spokesperson Viktorie Plívová, fraudulent SMS messages are being sent to citizens in flood-affected areas, pretending to offer an "insurance payout" after logging into a fake system. The VZP warns against opening links and advises clients to call the infoline to verify any suspicious messages.
In areas affected by floods, some municipalities in Jesenice (Central Bohemia; Prague-West) will need to find new locations for upcoming elections as polling stations in primary schools have been flooded. Ostrava Mayor Jan Dohnal is concerned about securing election commissions, while Opava Mayor Tomáš Navrátil disagrees with the government's decision not to postpone the regional and senate elections. The Central Crisis Staff will discuss the election organization tonight.
In Brno and the surrounding area, hundreds of trees fell due to waterlogging and wind from Saturday to Sunday. Most were uprooted, and only a small portion were broken. The unstable forests, previously damaged by the bark beetle, were hit the hardest. The owners are working to clear roads and warn visitors to avoid affected areas.
Dozens of Czech elementary schools are closed due to flooding in the Moravian-Silesian and Olomouc regions. The president of the Association of Primary School Principals, Luboš Zajíc, stated that the situation is still complicated and that the affected schools cannot function structurally. Some have no heating.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has announced that several countries, including Ukraine, Israel, and Slovenia, have offered help to the Czech Republic during the current devastating floods. Ukraine offered the Czech Republic personnel and material assistance from its rescue forces.

Floods continue to ravage the Czech Republic, with the Moravian-Silesian region hardest hit, claiming three lives. Key roads, including sections of the D1 highway, are closed, and rail restrictions are in place. Firefighters rescued 530 people in Ostrava-Přívoz due to dam breaches. Rain is expected in the south of the country until Wednesday.
Floods in the Moravia-Silesia Region have claimed three lives, regional officials confirmed Monday. Two men were found dead in Krnov, one in a flooded apartment and the other in a brook. On Sunday, a woman's body was discovered in the Krasovka River. Two people remain missing.
The Czech government approved the deployment of up to 2,000 troops from Sept. 17 to Oct. 31 to assist flood-stricken areas, Defense Minister Jana Černochová announced Monday.
The flood situation in Prague is stable, with current measures unchanged, according to the municipal flood commission. Floodgates remain closed, and shipping is suspended. The Vltava's flow is decreasing but may rise again, keeping the city on alert.

Over 200 hundred areas are still on flood alert, with the first casualty reported Monday morning: one person has been confirmed dead in the Krasovka River in north Moravia. Police have reported seven people missing due to the floods.
Rainfall continues, mainly affecting the Chrudimka, Opava, and Odra (Oder) rivers, though water levels are decreasing. The number of households without electricity due to the weather and flooding dropped to approximately 135,000 by 6 p.m. on Sunday.
The Prague Zoo and Botanical Garden remain closed today due to the risk of falling trees from waterlogged soil. The botanical garden is set to reopen Tuesday and the zoo on Wednesday. Playgrounds in some areas are closed, including those in Královská obora, Stromovka, Hvězda, Letná, and Petřín.
PHOTOS: Images from water-ravaged Czechia as first flood victim reported

Due to potential flooding and strong winds, the Union of Passenger Railway Carriers urges travelers to reconsider train travel this weekend.
The capital city’s public transport authority is asking commuters to monitor the situation via its app, website, and social network as extreme weather conditions may cause disruptions in public transport. The first precaution is suspending the cable car operation at Petřín from 6 p.m. until further notice.
The embankments will be closed at around 7 p.m. today. Additionally, shipping on the Vltava River will be halted starting Saturday. The city's flood commission will convene again at 6 p.m. to assess the situation.
In response to the threat of flooding, Prague’s city administration will close floodways in Prague 1, 2, and 5 districts. As a precaution, flood defenses are being constructed in critical areas, including the city center, Zbraslav, and Libeň.
Heavy rainfall is expected to cause significant water level rises starting Friday evening, with the most severe increases and multiple exceedances of the third level of flood activity predicted for Saturday and Sunday, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute.
Meteorologists have extended an extreme flood warning to almost all of Czechia except western Bohemia. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected until Monday night, with significant river flooding anticipated over the weekend, especially in the Jeseníky Mountains, northeastern ranges, and the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands.
In Prague, there is a warning of very heavy rain and a flood alert from 3 p.m., i.e. the second of the three warning levels.
Due to rising water levels, the Prague Municipality is constructing flood barriers in areas such as Zbraslav and Divadelní Street.
By 8 a.m. today, firefighters had handled 121 incidents, 78 of which were technical assistance.
Due to flooding threats, Prague closed the flood gates on Čertovka and deployed divers for assistance.
The Vltava Cascade's outflow was increased to 300 m³/s at 7:30 a.m. due to heightened water inflow; some South Bohemian cities and Prague are starting anti-flood measures.
Masaryk University in Brno-Komárov evacuated dormitories due to flooding risks and potential utility disruptions, relocating students temporarily.
The Odra Basin experienced significant rainfall, with up to 70 mm in Jeseníky and around 35 mm in other areas; the Beskydy received 2 to 10 mm.