State of emergency declared as floods strike Moravia

Flash floods swept across the north of the Czech Republic on Wednesday night, claiming at least 10 lives, washing away homes and severely disrupting transport. On Thursday, Prime Minister Jan Fischer called a meeting of the state security council, which pledged to deploy 1,000 soldiers to the areas worst affected, and millions of crowns in emergency aid.

Photo: CTK

Torrential rain caused severe flooding in the north of Moravia on Wednesday night, with rivers rising in some areas by more than seven metres. On Thursday afternoon at 3, as we recorded this programme, rescue workers said the floods had so-far claimed 10 lives, and that the death-toll was likely to rise further as they combed through the debris of cars swept away by the rising waters.

Photo: CTK

Hundreds of people were evacuated from the towns of Nový Jičín and Jeseník nad Odrou as a state of emergency was declared in the region. The latter saw perhaps the single worst tragedy, when three members of a family were found drowned inside their own home.

On Thursday, Prime Minister Jan Fischer sent a message of condolence to those in the regions affected, and pledged 54 million crowns (2.9 million USD) in emergency aid to combat the effects of the flood.

At a meeting of the state security council, the government also decided to heed the calls of Regional Governor Jaroslav Palas and send in the army. One thousand soldiers will be deployed to help with the rescue effort and subsequent clear up.

Photo: CTK

Transport in the area has all but ground to a halt. Two of those who died were elderly people unable to receive medical assistance. A whole 30-kilometre stretch of one main road between Valašské Meziříčí and Rožnov pod Radhoštěm was submerged underwater, while trains to the region continue to be cancelled.

In 1997, the region was hit by devastating floods which claimed nearly 50 lives. Meteorologists are warning of more heavy rainfall in the area over the coming days.