The Czech Republic is preparing today for possible extreme rainfall and flooding in the coming days, based on the forecasts of the Czech Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology, DPA reported.< /p>
As a precaution, authorities released water from many dams to create capacity to absorb the rainfall.
At the Vrane hydroelectric power station on the Vltava River south of Prague, the outflow was increased from 40 to 120 cubic meters per second.
This affects the Elbe River, which merges with the Vltava at Melnik, causing the water level to rise at Usti nad Labem, about 50 km south of Dresden.
Similar efforts were made to create space in the reservoirs along the rivers in the eastern part of the country.
"The situation we expect in the next four and maybe five days, unfortunately, is very similar to the situation during the great floods in 1997 and 2002,", warned the Czech Minister of the Environment, Petar Hladik.
These are the floods of the Oder in 1997 and the Elbe in 2002
Czech Interior Minister Vit Rakusan has called for social events planned for the next few days to be canceled if safety cannot be ensured.
This applies especially to activities near rivers and streams.
All those living in areas at risk of flooding are advised to prepare luggage for evacuation.