PRAGUE, Nov 5 (CTK) - The total damage caused by August's floods to the national economy amounted to Kc70 billion, of which damage on the territory of Prague is worth Kc24 billion, says a government report on the state budget for H1 2002, submitted to the Chamber of Deputies.
The government admits that this year's floods at first seemed to have been much more catastrophic than those that hit Moravia in 1997, but the estimates finally had to be revised down.
In September, FinMin Bohuslav Sobotka put the damage at Kc100 billion.
The government said that the floods affected 753 municipalities, including Prague, and that 220,000 people had to be evacuated.
The 1997 inundation hit 536 municipalities, 80,000 people were evacuated, and total damage exceeded Kc63 billion.
The government adds that this year's floods directly influenced tourism and that the economy lost some Kc10-15 billion due to the disaster.
However, the impact of the floods on economic developments will not be significant, says the government.
Unemployment is likely to rise and economic growth will probably slow down, but these trends should turn round as early as next year.