Government ministers to visit flood-damaged Krnov

Czech government ministers are due to visit the town of Krnov in the Moravia-Silesia Region, which suffered extensive damage in the September floods, to discuss the distribution of state aid for reconstruction and assess the situation on the ground. Many houses in the area remain inhabitable and residents are scrambling to dry their homes before the onset of winter. The military and firefighters are still helping to restore damaged infrastructure.

Krnov and Opava officials said earlier they are considering suing the state in connection with the extensive damage wrought by the September floods. According to the local authorities, the state is to blame for not having financed adequate flood protection measures on the Opava River in the 27 years since the devastating floods in 1997. They consequently hold it co-responsible for the extensive damage caused. They said their decision would depend on the state’s readiness to compensate individuals and firms for the damage caused.