Related articles

The eastern parts of the Czech Republic have just seen devastating flash floods that overturned cars, flooded houses and undermined roads after just a few hours of torrential rain. One person was killed, another is missing and damages to property and infrastructure are extensive. Given that flash floods are not uncommon in this country –could the impact of this natural disaster have been mitigated and are we partly to blame for being ill-prepared for periods of torrential rain? That’s a question I put to hydrobiology expert David Pithart.

Clean-up operations are still underway in some parts of the Czech Republic, which were hit by flash floods on Thursday. Fire officers have responded to around 300 calls in the wake of the heavy storms, clearing roads, removing fallen trees and pumping water from cellars.

Experts from the Czech University of Life Sciences are working to create a landscape with elements to ensure that the land can withstand drought and floods. If it proves successful, the project should serve as a model for areas elsewhere in the Czech Republic and Europe.

Insurance companies say the damage caused by Thursday’s flash floods is likely to reach tens of millions of crowns.

Insurers say hundreds of insurance claims were made in the course of Friday and more are expected in the coming days, since many people and institutions were engaged in emergency clean-up work and are only now taking stock of the damage.

Flash floods hit dozen of towns and villages in the central, southern and western parts of Bohemia.

Clean-up operations are underway in central, western and southern Bohemia which were hit by flash floods on Thursday night.

Flood alerts have been called off, but a number of roads were still closed in the Karlovy Vary region on Friday and many homes remained without electricity.

Firemen have been working around-the-clock to clear roads and pump water from cellars in the wake of Thursday’s storms. The severe storms hit the country following a lengthy period of drought.

Heavy rain overnight and on Sunday has swollen rivers in north Bohemia with a flood alert in place in the Liberec and Hradec Kralove regions. Second and third degree alerts are in place in many villages along the Labe, Jizera and Kamenice rivers which have exerienced flash floods in the past. Anti-flood measures are being effected, such as bags of sand being placed along the embanments. The situation is expected to improve at the start of the week.

In the debate about climate change, climate is often seen as the given – the main factor that is impacting nature and, of course, people. But, it’s a two way street with scientists increasingly aware of how local and regional changes are dramatically changing local environmental conditions and plants and animals as well. And that was the main theme as a host of Czech experts were brought together by the Czech Academy of Science in Prague this week.

The month of July, 1997 brought devastating floods to Central Europe. The flooding began in the Czech Republic, then spread to Poland and Germany taking the lives of close to 100 people, destroying towns and infrastructure and leaving thousands of people displaced.

The newly reconstructed Werich villa on Prague’s Kampa, once the home of the famous Czech actor Jan Werich, opened to the public on Friday evening. The villa was reconstructed by the Prague city hall after being severely damaged by floods over a decade ago and is now leased by the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation, which has turned it into the Voskovec and Werich Arts and Social Centre in honour of the great Czech acting duo. Visitors will be able to view many of Werich’s personal belongings as well as costumes from his films. The centre will also offer lectures, exhibitions and other events. Actor Jan Werich lived in the villa from 1945 until his death in 1980.

The newly reconstructed Werich villa on Prague’s Kampa, once the home of the famous Czech actor Jan Werich, opens to the public on Friday evening. The historical building has been uninhabited and falling apart since it was severely damaged by floods over a decade ago. The reconstruction, which was financed by Prague 1 authorities, amounted to around 30 million crowns. The villa is now leased by the Jan and Meda Mládek Foundation, which has turned it into the Voskovec and Werich Arts and Social Centre in honour of the great Czech acting duo. The centre will offer lectures, exhibitions and other events.