Difficult weekend in Czechia, floods not over yet
Czechia has experienced a very difficult weekend. As Storm Boris swept across Central and Eastern Europe, swollen rivers flooded many towns and villages across the country.
Particularly hard hit was northern Moravia, where the situation reminded locals of the devastating floods of 1997. Nevertheless, many people—not just in Opava, but in other regions as well—ignored the call of local authorities to leave their homes near rivers and streams, became stranded, and had to be rescued by emergency services. Interior Minister Vít Rakušan, from the Mayors and Independents Party, had a clear message for the nation:
"We are once again asking everyone, and we will keep repeating it over and over, to follow the instructions of the firefighters and not to refuse evacuation. Today, I saw with my own eyes, right in the Frýdlant area, people coming out of properties that were partially underwater, closing doors in front of the firefighters who had come to speak with them. They are not doing this to infringe on anyone's rights; they are doing it to save lives. They are doing it so they don't have to return to the same place under much more difficult conditions, when they may have to fight for their own lives as well."
Since the Ministry of Interior in Czechia is responsible for all emergency services and situations, Vít Rakušan added:
"Intensive cooperation is also underway with the Chief Hygienist, the Ministry of Health, and the individual regional hygiene stations. Mayors will receive hygiene guidelines for the public, which will logically be published on local websites and municipal office websites. At the same time, it is important to recognize the need for significantly increased hygiene in the areas that have unfortunately already suffered flooding. There may be contaminated water or food, which can quickly lead to the spread of infectious diseases."
Swollen rivers flooded many local roads, and some inhabited areas were completely cut off for a prolonged period, especially in the Olomouc Region. Additionally, the key D1 motorway, which connects Czechia to Poland, was closed near Ostrava, the largest population center in northern Moravia. Rail service to the city will remain suspended for at least another week, according to Transport Minister Martin Kupka, from the Civic Democratic Party:
"Based on information from the Central Crisis Staff, we decided to stop operations at the Ostrava railway hub. This prevented significant damage and avoided the very difficult task of evacuating people from trains that would have been stranded on the tracks, as water had already appeared in the railway hub in Ostrava by the morning. At the same time, we are preparing for the fastest possible restoration of flood-damaged infrastructure in all affected areas."
On Monday morning, the rainfall slightly eased, but the emergency is far from over. Authorities have asked all residents to closely follow announcements and information from local crisis management centers, as the situation remains fluid and conditions may vary significantly between regions or even within municipalities. The government will meet for an emergency session on Monday afternoon.
