Towns in Moravia and Silesia brace for heavy rain and possible flooding

Towns in the Moravian-Silesian Region are activating flood commissions in response to warnings of intense rainfall, as local authorities and fire services issue alerts via websites and social media.

Rivers draining the Beskydy, Javorníky, White Carpathians and Jeseníky mountains are expected to swell significantly on Tuesday night and Wednesday due to prolonged, heavy to extreme rainfall. Water levels may reach the first or second flood alert level, while smaller streams in the Olše River basin could even rise to the highest, third level.

As a precaution, Environment Minister Petr Hladík convened a meeting of the Central Flood Commission on Tuesday morning to assess the forecast and recommend possible measures.

Nineteen children's camps are currently operating in high-risk areas, according to the Czech Public Health Service. Firefighters will visit all of them to inform organisers of the risks, officials said.

Interior Minister Vít Rakušan urged people in threatened areas to keep phones charged and have power banks ready -standard advice in any emergency. He also warned people against entering swollen rivers, stressing that doing so could endanger both civilians and rescue teams.