In the face of recent flooding, Prague residents have demonstrated a commendable level of responsibility, with a few notable exceptions. The city’s emergency services are grappling with challenges posed by inconsiderate parking and an unusual case of theft from a fire truck.
Prague 4 district has reached its limit with drivers parking in yellow-marked areas, impeding the work of emergency services during weather-related incidents. The district has called upon the municipal police to address the issue, urging drivers to park only in designated areas.
Despite these parking infractions, the Prague Municipal Police spokesperson, Irena Seifertová, reports that there hasn’t been a significant increase in parking violations related to the floods. The city’s services have only had to forcibly remove seven vehicles from the riverfront areas.
Seifertová noted that while some areas faced no issues, others encountered “flood tourism,” with large crowds gathering along the Vltava River banks. The police have used social media to appeal to residents, asking them to respect flood measures and not hinder the work of emergency services.
In a bizarre turn of events, firefighters reported the theft of emergency response gear from one of their vehicles. This incident has sparked outrage on social media, with concerns raised about potential misuse of the stolen equipment.
Despite these challenges, authorities acknowledge that the majority of Prague’s residents have been responsible during this crisis. As Seifertová concluded, “Fortunately, most of Prague’s residents are responsible, and we would like to thank them for that”.