South Bohemia declares state of emergency under heavy snowfall

Heavy snowfall continues to blanket much of the Czech Republic this morning, and a state of emergency has been declared in the South Bohemian region. According to Governor Martin Kuba, there are disruptions and closures in both railway and bus transportation, some roads are impassable, and power outages have been reported in certain areas.

Energy company EG.D has recorded 29 faults in high-voltage lines, and more than 10,000 locations are without power in South Bohemia and Vysočina according to E.ON spokesperson Roman Šperňák.

"Since early morning, we have been consulting with our road crews, emergency integrated system units, and the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute," Kuba writes on social media. "Despite deploying all our road crew equipment, the continuous snowfall makes it evident that it is becoming increasingly challenging to keep all roads passable."

"As the snow is heavy due to continuous falling, there are increasingly frequent power outages, fallen trees in some areas, and according to the forecast, very dense snowfall is expected throughout the morning and afternoon. Considering all these conditions, it is clear that we will not be able to maintain normal traffic on the roads of the South Bohemian region. It is necessary to declare a state of emergency."

Governor Kuba emphasized that the situation is unusual and urged the public to be patient and understanding, given the challenges posed by nature. He requested citizens to adapt their behavior to the difficult conditions.

South Bohemian road crews have deployed all 200 snowplows. Due to the heavy and wet snow, fallen trees have been reported on some roads. The director of the Road and Highway Administration of South Bohemia, Andrea Jankovcová, advised people to consider whether it is necessary to drive today.

According to meteorologists, snow will continue to fall and accumulate on the ground in many places throughout the region. Up to 45 centimeters of snowfall were reported in the southern Bohemia and Vysočina regions since Friday, with an additional 25 centimeters expected today.

In Prague, snow and ice are causing transportation complications, especially in the outskirts of the city. Several bus lines have been interrupted, and highways leading to Prague are snow-covered or icy.

In the Central Bohemian Region, snowfall is ongoing, affecting visibility and causing disruptions on roads. Cautious driving is recommended as all snowplows are in operation.

Road closures and/or traffic complications have also been reported in the Pardubice, Hradec Králové, Ústí nad Labem, Plzeň, and Liberec regions, and an accident on the D1 highway from Prague to Brno has resulted in a 20-kilometer-long traffic jam.

Meteorologists predict further snowfall throughout the day in most regions throughout the Czech Republic. Keep an eye out for updates on the evolving weather conditions and road situations in affected areas.