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Meteorologists are warning that there is a risk of heavy storms and flooding in parts of the Czech Republic on Monday afternoon and evening and through the night. South Bohemia, the Vysočina region, Moravia and Silesia will be the most affected. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute issued the warning on Monday for storms with torrential rainfall of around 35 millimeters starting in the afternoon in southern Bohemia and the Vysočina region. In south Bohemia there is also a risk of flooding. Over the night storms may also occur in eastern Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia.

The warning applies to southern Bohemia, Vysočina and the vicinity of Znojmo from 3pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday, and for eastern Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia from 6pm on Monday until 8am on Tuesday.

An ice avalanche that fell on Marmolada Mountain in the Italian Alps on Sunday has claimed at least six lives, among them a Czech woman, the Italian paper Il Messaggero reports. Four of the victims have thus far been identified, three of them being Italians. Authorities believe as many as 15 people may still be missing, according to The Guardian. Reports in Italian media about how many people were injured in the incident vary from eight to nine.

The threat of a further ice avalanche prevented rescue teams from implementing a more thorough search on Sunday evening, following the accident. Five helicopters, as well as drones and thermal cameras have been used by the rescue workers, Czech Television reports.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala told Czech Television on Sunday that he expects his country’s Parliament will ratify Sweden and Finland’s entry into NATO at the beginning of autumn this year. His Slovak counterpart, who was also a guest on the public broadcaster’s programme, saud that he expects the same to happen in his country.

Sweden and Finland applied for NATO membership following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Earlier on Sunday, Czech President Miloš Zeman said he is in favor of further military aid for Ukraine and for Czech armed forces to train the country’s soldiers.

Folowing similar words stated by members of the ruling coalition government, Prime Minister Petr Fiala on Saturday expressed himself in favour of the Czech Republic adopting an energy sector tax, that would be mainly aimed at energy companies. Mr Fiala said that it would be an expression of solidarity at a time when many people are facing extremely high energy prices, Czech Television reports.

The public broadcaster reported last week that most government parties are in favour of implementing a special tax on energy companies, which are currently seeing a massive rise in profits amid the energy crisis. A proposal by the Pirate Party, which could be put into place either in October 2022 or January next year, expects the implementation of a 25 percent income tax on the relevant parties. The party expects that this could add between CZK 10 billion to CZK 20 billion into the treasury, Czech Television reports.

Speaking to CNN Prima News on Sunday, President Miloš Zeman said he is sympathetic to the idea. He also said that he doesn’t think that the government is doing enough to help alleviate inflation pressures on the population.