Related articles

The authorities have declared a state of emergency in four places in western and northern Czech Republic as heavy rain continues to swell rivers. The highest degree of flood alert has been declared in Srbská Kamenice, Stankov, Nová Huť and Benešov nad Ploučnicí where a retirement home has been evacuated. Meteorologists warn that waters levels will continue to rise through Saturday night and Sunday as more rain is expected, mainly in the western and northern parts of the country

Meteorologists have declared flood alert on several rivers mainly n in the north and west of the Czech Republic. Heavy rain has also swollen the Vltava in Prague where City Hall on Friday closed sections of the embankment. Up to 70 mm of precipitation is expected to fall in the borderland regions over the weekend.

Dozens of homes and an industrial complex were flooded in the town of Studénka in eastern Moravia, after heavy rainfall hit the area on Wednesday night. Fifteen fire brigades assisted businesses and residents to drain the water from their homes and gardens throughout the night and into Thursday morning. One man was trapped in his car in high water, but was eventually rescued by firefighters. No major injuries were reported.

Mid-level flood alerts are in effect on two rivers in southern Bohemia, the Lužnice and Nežárka. The Lužnice River rose most markedly in the area of Bechyně and Klenovice, while the Nežárka rose most at the village of Hamr near Soběslav. Officials the Hydrometeorological Institute in České Budějovice said, all the same, that water levels were gradually receding in the region. Lower-level warnings are in place on a number of other rivers.

The authorities on Friday raised the level of flood alert on the Labe River in the northern town Děčín after several roads and a square near the river were flooded. Meteorologists expect that water levels on the Labe in Děčín will continue to rise on Friday night. A flood alert has also been declared for most parts of Bohemia following a spell of warm weather which melted snow and swelled rivers in recent days.

The fast increase in temperatures, melting of snow and rain in the past few days has caused a number of rivers around the Czech Republic to rise. Flood warnings are in effect from Thursday morning in the Plzeň, Ústí nad Labem and South Bohemian regions. Authorities in Prague, Central Bohemia, Pardubice, Hradec Králové and Vysočina regions have asked residents to be mindful of potential flooding. Nine rivers in southern Bohemia have risen beyond the first flood level. Some rivers in the north of Bohemia passed the highest – third – flood level on Wednesday night, but by Thursday morning were down below dangerous levels.

Earlier this month, construction began on a new four-floor centre in the city of Ostrava that will house the first Czech supercomputer. The site, which will house hundreds of processors and will employ between 150 and 250 staff, will have massive computing power capable of complex simulations in breakthrough fields such as nanotechnology. It is expected to begin full operation in 2015.

Persistent rain has resulted in local flooding in north-western Bohemia. Many villages in the Plzen, Karlovy Vary and Usti nad Labem regions are on high flood alert and firemen have been pumping water from gardens and cellars. Several smaller roads in the area have had to be closed to traffic. Although water levels have now stopped rising meteorologists are predicting more rain in the coming days.

In related news, meteorologists on Wednesday warned of increased risk of flooding due to swelling rivers in the south and west of the country. While water levels are expected to remain stable over the next 24 hours, heavy rain which should arrive on Thursday, could swell upper courses of many rivers. The warning is in place for the West Bohemian and parts of the South Bohemian regions between Thursday night and Saturday morning.

Warm weather has raised water levels in rivers in the south, west, and central Bohemia. On Tuesday morning, the Berounka reached the second degree of flood risk at Zbečno, some 40 kilometres west of Prague while lower levels of flood hazard have been declared at several other places. In the eastern Czech Republic, freezing rain, snow and ice-covered roads complicate traffic. The authorities have appealed to drivers to exercise extra caution.