Floods claimed 15 lives and cost hundreds of millions

This year’s floods have claimed 15 lives and affected a total of 970 municipalities around the Czech Republic, according to the outgoing Environment Minister Tomáš Chapula. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr. Chalupa said that towns and cities have so far used more than 750 million crowns from the Finance Ministry’s emergency fund for post-flood expenses, and 200 million more were recommended to be released for repairs. Some 50,000 police officers and fire fighters as well as 10,000 soldiers helped with the flood defense preparations and rescue efforts, having helped evacuate over 26,000 people and rescued around 600.

Author: Masha Volynsky