Railway lines and roads were blocked by fallen trees and cellars were flooded. (symbol image)Image: EPA
June 21, 2026, 2:06 p.mJune 21, 2026, 2:20 p.m
In the Czech Republic and Poland, storms and floods have led to numerous fire brigade operations since Saturday.
In the Czech Republic, meteorologists announced heat records on Saturday with regional temperatures of up to 36 degrees. The heat then erupted into violent thunderstorms and heavy rain. The Czech fire brigade reported more than 700 operations on Saturday afternoon and evening alone. Among other things, railway lines and roads were blocked by fallen trees and cellars were flooded. In the central Bohemian town of Pribram, about 60 kilometers southwest of Prague, the fire brigade had to use a boat to rescue two people who were trapped in their garden shed by flooding.
In Jakuszyce, Poland, a 38-year-old woman was struck by lightning and suffered cardiac arrest. She was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Her condition is stable, the Onet.pl news portal reported on Sunday, citing rescue workers. In the large city of Breslau (Wroclaw in Polish), flooded streets in the urban area caused major traffic problems. A well-known motorsport event in the city’s Olympic Stadium was also affected by flooding. The Polish Speedway Grand Prix could only begin after a considerable delay because parts of the track and the pits were under water, as the news portal TVP Info reported.
For neighboring Slovakia, meteorologists and health authorities warned of temperatures of up to 35 degrees. Severe thunderstorms and storm damage are also expected on Sunday, it was said. (sda/dpa)