Update on the situation in the Czech Republic
04 June 2013According to the Embassy of Bulgaria in Prague, the weather situation in the city has normalised. The level of the river Vltava in Prague reached its critical point today at 6am local time, which was followed by a decrease and the risk of new flooding seems to be past. The readiness for evacuation in some of the affected areas of Prague was canceled. Roads at riverbanks remain closed, as are some sections of the underground railway. Schools and kindergartens are functioning normally.
Flooding in the northern Tsentralnocheshka area (at the rivers Vltava and Elbe) and in the Ústí nad Labem region along the river Elbe) still is large-scale. It is expected that on Wednesday afternoon the river in the regional centre Ústí nad Labem will reach its critical point. Transport between the two sides of the city is possible only by rail link. Two road bridges were closed, as well as the streets leading to them, which are already below the level of the river. The lower-lying areas are being evacuated (an evacuation of 1300 people is envisaged). The same goes for the nearby town of Decin.
Some secondary roads in the country remain partly closed. The schedule of the railway has not yet been completely restored. By 6am local time today, 8340 people had been evaculated from the affected areas, 5329 of them in the Ústí nad Labem region. According to information received, seven people have died because of the floods.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates its advice to Bulgarian citizens who are planning to travel in this region, to possibly postpone doing so until the situation normalises. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to recommend to Bulgarian citizens who intend to travel to Central European countries affected by the floods to carefully monitor weather conditions and to strictly observe the instructions of local authorities.