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The Czech Republic this year witnessed one of the driest summers in its history, and experts predict that heatwaves, as well as other weather extremes, are to occur more frequently in the future. In view of these predictions, the Czech government has put together a team of experts to outline measures that will help fight floods and droughts.

Czech zookeepers providing assistance and expertise at the city zoo in the Georgian capital Tbilisi after it was devastated by recent flash floods, say they have helped find and remove the carcasses of some one hundred animals that were buried in the mud. Czech experts have been in the capital now for a week. Petr Velenský of Prague Zoo described the situation on the ground. The team of experts - five from Prague Zoo and one each from the zoos in Ústí nad Labem and Zlín - opted to help, not least because of experience with floods the Czech Republic suffered in 2002 and 2013.

A group of experts from Czech zoos has left for the Georgian capital of Tbilisi to help the city’s zoo, which was hit by a devastating flood last week. Prague Zoo, which experienced similar disasters in 2002 and 2013, will provide advice as well as practical help.

A group of Czech zookeepers have flown to the Georgian capital Tbilisi to provide help at the city’s zoo, which was devastated by flash flooding at the weekend. Seven Czechs are taking part in the mission, including five from Prague Zoo and one each from the zoos in Ústí nad Labem and Zlín. Prague Zoo director Miroslav Bobek said the Czech zookeepers could share know-how gained when his institution was inundated in 2002 and 2013.

The Czech Republic will invest almost CZK 5 billion in flood defences over the next five years, the minister of agriculture, Marian Jurečka, said on a television discussion programme on Sunday. Around CZK 1 billion will be spent on anti-flood measures this year, Mr. Jurečka said. The Ministry of Agriculture has launched the third phase of a flood defence programme that is due to be completed in 2020. Since devastating flooding hit the Czech Republic in 2002 around CZK 15 billion has been spent on anti-flood measures.

The Czech weather office has warned of high winds of up to 125 kilometres an hour and downpours across most of Bohemia on Saturday. The forecasters have warned that river levels across the country are likely to rise rapidly with the biggest threat of flooding focused on the Úhlava river near Klatovy in the west of the country.

Meteorologists have warned that water levels on several rivers mainly in the mountain regions of the Czech Republic are expected to rise over the weekend as a result of sudden warming, melting snow, and heavy rainfall. The forecasters have also issued a warning against strong winds for the whole of the country. In the mountains, winds are expected to reach 110 kilometres per hour.

The governor of South Moravia Michal Hašek has called a state of emergency in two villages in the Břeclav region where there is a continuing danger of mudslides in the wake of heavy rain. Ten families had to be evacuated in the town of Strachotín over the weekend as a debris flow came dangerously close to their homes. In the town a Dolní Vestonice a mudslide necessitated the evacuation of a campsite. One woman was reported injured and two caravans were damaged. Emergency crews have been working to secure the areas.

Lower-level flood alerts are still in place for some parts of the Czech Republic. Meteorologists warn that rivers could still rise in the regions of south Bohemia, Vysočina and Znojmo. The Jevišovka river in the Znojmo region inundated several houses on Sunday afternoon, forcing some 15 people out of their homes. Fire crews in the areas affected by floods reported dozens of emergency calls. Rain is expected to cease in most of the country by midnight.

Weather forecasters have warned that flooding may occur in south Moravia on Saturday afternoon as heavy rainfall could cause rivers to rise. The height of major rivers in the region such as the Dyje and Morava as well as smaller streams could rise to the 2nd degree flood alert. Up to 50 mm of precipitations have been registered overnight in Krušné hory in the north-west of the country.