WARSAW, June 2 (RIA Novosti) – Rescuers have found the body of a second victim of heavy floods in the Czech Republic, while another three people are missing, state media reported on Sunday.
One woman died in Trebenice outside Prague on Sunday when her house collapsed. The body of a man was found in a ruined house in the same town, the CTK news agency reported.
“The rescue operation in the flood zone is hampered as the rescuers can reach the buildings only on boats,” a local police spokesman said. Three rescuers have disappeared during an operation and a search for them is underway.
Authorities in Prague declared a state of emergency on Sunday after the Vltava River reached the highest level of flood alert. City officials have closed eight metro stations to save subway from flooding.
The famous Prague Zoo has started evacuating some animals, including gorillas, turtles and tapirs, whose cages could be submerged, the CTK agency said. In August 2002, the zoo was affected by the country’s most disastrous flooding in history, in which many animals were found drowned.
Highest flood alert levels have been declared at more than 50 cities. Buildings in the affected areas are being evacuated.
Updated with details in para 5.
