In a dramatic turn of events, the Czech Republic’s railway network has been severely impacted by widespread flooding. As of Monday morning, approximately 80 rail sections across the country have been forced to suspend operations due to rising water levels.
Martin Kavka, spokesperson for the Railway Administration’s fire department, reported that since Friday, their teams have responded to a staggering 247 flood-related incidents. The situation remains critical, with some rail sections closed as a precautionary measure, while others have been rendered impassable due to flooding or fallen waterlogged trees.
The Opava region has been particularly hard hit, bearing the brunt of the deluge. In Ostrava, the impact on rail transportation has been so severe that Transport Minister Martin Kupka announced on Sunday evening that trains would not be running to the city for the entire week.
The crisis extends beyond Opava and Ostrava, with other regions in Moravia-Silesia, including Jeseník and the area around Šumperk, also grappling with critical conditions. As of Monday morning, flood warnings were in effect at 207 locations across the Czech Republic.
Four areas are currently experiencing extreme flood levels: the Chrudimka River in Nemošice in the Pardubice region, and in the Moravian-Silesian region, the Opava River in Děhylov and Opava, and the Oder River in Ostrava-Svinov. Meteorologists have recorded fifty-year flow rates at these locations, signaling the severity of the situation.
For those needing to travel, up-to-date information on the Czech railway situation can be found on the Railway Administration’s interactive map or via the Datel app. Czech Railways is providing updates on their X (formerly Twitter) account and website, while road condition information is available at dopravniinfo.cz.