President Zeman thanks nation for coming together in wake of natural disaster

In a televised address to the nation President Miloš Zeman expressed his condolences to those who had lost loved ones in the tornado that devastated seven villages in southern Moravia on Thursday, wished the injured a speedy recovery and thanked those involved in the rescue operation and clean-up work underway.

The president specifically thanked firefighters, soldiers and police officers for working round the clock in the affected municipalities, saying he had ordered the Prague Castle Guard to boost their ranks in the Hodonín and Břeclav regions and help wherever needed.

The president said he was touched by the unprecedented wave of solidarity shown by people around the country in the wake of this natural disaster and expressed the hope that the Czech nation would always come together in times of need.