The Flood Committee of the capital city of Prague met on Friday evening to discuss the current situation of imminent flooding. In the districts of Prague 1, 2 and 5, the dams were closed at 19:00 on Friday. On Saturday morning, flood defence construction work will continue in the districts of Holešovice, Bubenč and Zbraslav, among others. Shipping traffic on the Vltava will be suspended in the early hours of the morning. The flood commission will meet again on Saturday at 11:00 am. The Prague City Hall hotline will also be available at the weekend from 9:00 to 15:00 on 800 100 000.
The dams in Prague 1, 2 and 5 were already closed on Friday at 19:00. The Prague City Council, in cooperation with the Prague Police, will organise the forced towing of vehicles to ensure safety. At the same time, the Trade Centre Praha, which manages the city’s dams, will ensure that material is removed that could be swept away if the Vltava’s water flow increases and thus endanger the safety or property of Prague’s population.
The Flood Commission also announced that, based on the forecasts, construction work on flood defence walls will continue on Saturday morning in Varhulíkova Street in Holešovice, in Bubenč near Stromovka and in Zbraslav. Depending on the location, work is scheduled to begin between 6:00 and 8:00 am. The total length of the new barriers is 89 metres, with the height of the barriers varying between 2.1 and 6.27 metres. The total weight of the barriers and other equipment is over 29 tonnes.
It is also expected that shipping traffic on the Vltava will be suspended in the morning hours on Saturday, depending on the development of current conditions. The Flood Commission warns of the increased current and calls on all parties along the river to adhere to the flood plans and operating regulations and to exercise increased caution.
The City of Prague will also operate a hotline between 9:00 and 15:00 on the number 800 100 000. This will be available to the residents of Prague in crisis situations in connection with the impending floods.
The City of Prague is also urgently appealing to the organisers of outdoor events to cancel their events at the weekend, especially in watercourses, parks, forest areas and similar places that could be flooded. There is also a risk of falling trees, especially in connection with the warning of strong winds. The Prague fire brigade has already reported fallen trees in various parts of the city.
The Flood Commission will meet again on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. to decide on further measures. The City of Prague encourages residents to follow the media and other city information channels, as all current measures will be publicised there.
