President: flood recovery will take years

It will take months or even years to rebuild the areas affected by the devastating floods, President Petr Pavel told Czech Television on Wednesday after a visit to the Moravian-Silesian region. The Czech head of state said the government should assist the mayors, both financially and in securing the elections that will take place this coming weekend.

The Czech head of state paid an announced visit to the town of Bohumín, one of the places hardest hit by the flooding. Parts of the town, which borders with Poland, were completely submerged by the river Odra during the weekend, forcing dozens to evacuate. Much of Bohumín has since been left without electricity and many also have no access to drinking water.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala and other government members visited the Moravian-Silesian region on Tuesday.