Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
13-09-2024
What happened, where and when?
The 2024 Central European floods in the Czech Republic were caused by Storm Boris, which brought record rainfall beginning on 13 September 2024.
Over 200 rivers overflowed, with Northern Moravia, particularly Jeseník, Opava, and Ostrava, among the hardest-hit areas. The rain totals in parts of Jeseník exceeded 500 mm (20 inches), surpassing previous flood records. Roads, railways, and bridges suffered extensive damage, especially in Ostrava, where train services were suspended. These regions experienced severe flooding, leading to the destruction of homes and infrastructure. Thousands of people were evacuated, and approximately 250,000 were left without electricity. The rain totals in parts of Jeseník exceeded 500 mm (20 inches), surpassing previous flood records. Roads, railways, and bridges suffered extensive damage, especially in Ostrava, where train services were suspended. The situation remains critical in parts of the South Bohemian Region, where ongoing threats of further flooding persist. As of 19 September, five fatalities were reported, along with widespread displacement of about 10,000 residents.
The Czech Red Cross (CRC) currently operates in evacuation centers, assisting with evacuation efforts and supporting those in need. Teams are also helping construct flood protection measures and have initiated monitoring of immediate needs, damages, and psychosocial requirements. Distribution of essential supplies, including food, drinking water, and hygiene items, is ongoing in affected areas. Nine regional branches are fully mobilized to support operations. An Emergency Operations Centre has been established at the CRC headquarters, and local branch posts are being set up in the hardest-hit areas to streamline response efforts. Psychosocial Support (PSS) activities are underway in areas with ongoing evacuations, addressing affected individuals' immediate emotional and psychological needs.
Scope and scale
The 2002 floods, caused by prolonged torrential rains, primarily affected Bohemia, including Prague and the Vltava and Labe rivers. Over 1.5 million people were affected, with more than 200,000 evacuations, including 50,000 from Prague alone. The floods led to 17 fatalities and caused approximately USD 3 billion (CHF 2.79 billion) in damages, severely impacting historical infrastructure in the capital. The event exposed vulnerabilities in the country’s flood defenses.
In contrast, the 2024 floods were triggered by Cyclone Boris and exacerbated by climate change, with extreme weather becoming more frequent. This event primarily affected Moravia and parts of Bohemia, including regions like Krnov, Brno, and the Moravian-Silesian area. While so far fewer people were impacted—around 10,000 evacuations and 17,000 severely affected—the floods caused significant damage to infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages, transportation disruptions, and shortages of essential services. As of 19 September, five lives have been lost so far. Infrastructure has suffered significant damage, with bridges being swept away and at least 250,000 customers experiencing power cuts. Train services between Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic are suspended. The waters are slowly receding, and more impacted areas are becoming accessible, but shortages of food, essential items and services, electricity, and clean water remain. Czech Republic requested assistance from the Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM) through dehumidifiers.
As of 19 September, the situation in the Czech Republic is gradually improving. Precipitation has significantly decreased, and most affected rivers, including those in the Odra basin, upper and central Moravia, and the upper and middle Elbe basin, are experiencing declining water levels. In Mělník, for instance, the Elbe River has receded from a peak of 613 cm to 581 cm, with expectations that it will soon fall below the third flood alert level. While the lower sections of the Morava and Elbe rivers remain above the third flood level, their water levels are decreasing.
Despite the overall improvements, 55 locations still have flood warnings in place, with particular concern around the Lužnice River. At the Frahelž measurement station, water levels have surpassed the fifty-year flood mark, and the river remains at extreme flood threat levels. Near Rožmberk, the Lužnice River continues to rise, but at a slower rate, while conditions on the Nežárka River, a tributary, are stabilizing with gradually falling water levels. In Central Bohemia, water levels continue to decline, signaling relief in some areas. Recovery efforts have begun in some of the affected regions.