Military assisting fire fighter rescue crews

In related news, Liberec officials called for help from the military to aid fire fighters and rescue teams as the situation grew out of control. The military has so far sent five helicopters, together with specialists and machinery – including two amphibious vehicles - to complement some 700 professional and voluntary fire fighters operating in the Liberec and Ústí areas. An additional 450 soldiers are on stand-by; Defence Minister Alexandr Vondra and the chief of the General Staff, General Vlastimil Picek, have flown to the region to survey developments. In the region of Plzeň in the west of the country meanwhile, locals are on alert; sandbag barricades have been laid at key spots and other precautions are being taken. As heavy rains continue across the country into Sunday, further areas could be hit.