The level of the Vltava rose last week due to heavy rain, and on the night of Saturday the first flood stage in Malá Chuchla began, which lasted until Sunday evening. “Due to permanent and heavy rainfall, there was a temporary flood on the Prague-Průhonice station in Botič during the night and at the 2nd stage of flood activity,” meteorologist Dagmar Honsová told Blesk. The capital has taken precautionary measures to warn of flood vigilance. Already on Friday afternoon, the floodplains in Prague 1, 2 and 5 were closed, as well as the flood gates in Čertovka.

These were concluded by divers of Prague’s professional firefighters in cooperation with the Vltava River Basin. “Divers assisted in closing the flood gates directly in the water and checked their condition,” said firefighter spokesman Martin Kavka. According to the municipality, the gate was closed for the first time since the floods in 2013, with a visit to the exercise in 2019.

However, as the level of the Vltava began to fall on Sunday, the flood commission decided that the floodplains could reopen – it happened at 12:00 on Monday. The gates on Čertovka were also opened. According to a spokesman for the Prague City Hall, Vít Hofman, the flow of the Vltava has been favorable since night and at 10:00 on Monday morning it was 403 cubic meters per second, which is below the limit of the first degree of flood activity.

Ferries run

Five ferries also returned to operation on Monday, with ferries P2 from Podbaba to Podhoří and P3 from Distillery to Veslařský ostrov sailing again from 11:00. An hour later, P4 from Císařská louka sailing to Kotevní and P5 ferry from Císařská louka to Podskalí to Výtoň and P1 from Sedlec to Zámky also returned to their route. The P6 ferries connecting Lahovičky and Modřany and the P7 sailing from the Prague Market through Štvanice on Rohan Island remain out of operation. The voyage in the part of the Vltava near Holešovice has not yet opened, as the Vltava River Basin must first delineate the navigation route with the help of buoys.

Despite the improving situation, the municipality is urging caution. “Due to the flow of water in the speech, citizens need to be careful, especially at the edge of the shore. According to information from the Vltava River Basin, unless exceptionally heavy rains occur, it should continue to be under the control of the Vltava cascade and other anti-flood measures would not have to be taken, “said Councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09).

According to Honsová, it should continue to rain in Prague. “However, precipitation totals will stop within 10 mm, so the flood situation will calm down. However, occasional rain or showers are expected throughout the next week, and when the soil is saturated with water during heavy rainfall, river levels may rise.She added.