Four dead as flooding continues in Czech Republic
Czech cities struggled with floods today as rivers swollen with rain and melting snow remained high, flooding parts of several towns throughout the country.
The number of flood victims rose to four as two men drowned in a car that drove into a flooded river yesterday near the city of Theresienstadt, 50 miles north of Prague.
The flooding seemed most dangerous in the city of Usti nad Labem in the north-west near the German border, where River Elbe broke through sandbag barriers this morning, flooding houses along the embankment. The army was called in to help.
“We are managing to evacuate everybody. Those who refused to move yesterday are leaving quickly,” the city’s mayor Petr Gandalovic told Czech radio. The number of evacuated residents is estimated at 250.
The Elbe’s water rose by one metre overnight reaching 8 metres over the usual level in Usti nad Labem, up from the usual 2 metres, disrupting traffic.
Authorities plan to close a key bridge as the river is expected to peak on Sunday.
