Evacuations under way in Czech city of Ostrava after dyke breaches

Due to the acute risk of flooding, evacuations have been expanded in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, Environment Minister Petr Hladík said on Monday.

"In several districts, it is evident that dykes have breached," Hladik stated following a crisis meeting.

It is believed that around 100 cubic metres of water per second are flowing through the breaches. Efforts are being made to fill the gaps with stones, he said.

Residents of Ostrava were already being brought to safety using inflatable boats, he said.

Ostrava, home to about 285,000 residents, is located at the confluence of four rivers, including the Oder and Opava. The mining and industrial centre is situated nearly 280 kilometres east of Prague.

Rail traffic to Ostrava and further on towards Poland has been completely suspended. A power plant had to be shut down.

In nearby Bohumín, power and mobile networks were knocked offline due to the floods. The supply of drinking water collapsed in many places.

After torrential rains swelled rives, entire regions of the Czech Republic are underwater. According to the municipal administration, approximately 80% of the town of Litovel was flooded.

Since the beginning of the storms late last week, the heaviest rainfall has been recorded near the town of Jesenik, Hladik said, adding that up to 500 millimetres of rain have fallen there so far.

In the mountains in the north of the country, it has been 300 to 400 millimetres, and in other regions of the Czech Republic, up to 200 millimetres of rain.

This is more than usually falls in a span of several months.