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The floods of 2002 devastated the library of the Czech Statistical Office. Over a century of statistical data, as far back as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, was under water. How are they coping two years on?

It's been two years since the "500-year" flood swept through the Vltava River basin and inundated the Czech capital. Along with other cultural treasures, Prague's libraries were hard hit, says the head of the Municipal Library of Prague, Tomas Rehak. On the anniversary of the 2002 floods Pavla Horakova interviewed Mr Rehak and began by asking him about the extent of the damage, both to the archives and the library buildings themselves.

When a flood wave hit the Czech capital Prague two years ago it damaged not only buildings in the vicinity of the Vltava but also their contents. Entire archives were destroyed by water, including many precious historic prints. But luckily not all was lost to water, thanks to modern technology and quick decision-making. Tomas Rehak is the general director of the Municipal Library whose buildings and archives - including the department of rare prints - were heavily struck back in 2002.

Czech insurance companies and global re-insurers were hit hard by claims in the wake of the 2002 floods. Insurers have since invested heavily into computerised assessment tools.

August 13th of 2002 is a day that remains firmly etched into people's minds. Exactly two years ago the Czech Republic - and indeed large parts of central Europe - were hit by devastating floods. Here in the Czech Republic 17 people lost their lives, 50, 000 Prague residents were evacuated from their homes, hundreds of people were left homeless and in some cases entire villages lay in ruins.

What you're hearing is the sound of water from the Vltava River, as it flooded through the rooms of the old castle in Roztoky near Prague exactly two years ago. Roztoky was one of many Bohemian towns with a precious architectural heritage that suffered in the floods.

Even though this year's August weather has been hot and sunny so far, things could not have been more different exactly two years ago, when many towns in the Czech Republic were affected by heavy floods. The waters didn't reach Prague until August 13, a couple of days after dozens of towns and villages in the south of the country had already found themselves under water. Edita Kucerova, who lives in the beautiful South-Bohemian town of Pisek recalls these events.

Exactly two years ago, the Czech Republic was hit by devastating floods. With 17 deaths and thousands of people evacuated from their homes, one third of the country experienced floods that in some places were the worst in 500 years. But while life has returned back to normal in most of the affected areas, one area - Prague's Karlin district still looks more like a big construction site. Seven buildings had to be torn down and many of the 1,100 houses that were flooded are still damp and experts only recently began applying special microscopic fungi

The German play about a famous Czech sea lion, the traffic officer who shocked Pilsen and, the summer menace for holiday makers across the country. Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarova

Weather forecasters have warned that heavy rains on Thursday may cause rivers in many parts of the country to rise dangerously high. Downpours on Tuesday evening led to the flooding of cellars around Pilsen and Olomouc. Meanwhile, reports that this June will be relatively cool may lead many Czechs to holiday abroad rather than staying at home, an expert told the CTK news agency.