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Prague Braced for Crucial 12 Hours

Aired August 14, 2002 - 06:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now let's get the latest on the flooding in the Czech Republic. The flood-ravaged capital of Prague is braced today for what's expected to be the worst rain to hit the historic city in 500 years.
CNN's Mike Hanna joins us live by phone with details.

Good morning -- Mike.

MIKE HANNA, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, I don't know whether you can hear me at the moment. The mobile system here is completely disrupted by the flood waters.

But what I can tell you at the moment, the authorities here still waiting for the waters to crest. There has been increasing flood damage in recent hours. The latest building to be damaged, that of the National Theater. This is a symbol of the Czech cultural revival, built in the 19th century. It's the latest of many buildings that have been damaged in this devastating flood.

The water is continuing to come down right through that's racing through the center of Prague. We are hearing that further south, flood waters are subsiding, but there's still full effect of these waters coming down from the south, flowing from south to north through the capital of Prague, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) to be felt (ph) here. Authorities clearly concerned that the crest is coming within the next few hours, and then it will be clear how extensive this flood is, a flood that has already been incredibly extensive.

It is the most serious flood in well over a century in Prague, intense amounts of damage has been caused, tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from their homes, basically in the Old City and in the area known as the Little Quarter.

Also among those evacuated, the mayor of Prague. He had to move out of his offices, as have members of the National Assembly, as these flood waters continue to inch higher, no end in sight.

So authorities hoping that the sand bags in place, that all of the precautionary measures that have been done, will limit the damage, and I stress the word "limit," because a very, very great deal of damage has already been caused.

COSTELLO: All right, Mike Hanna, I understand you're cell is bad, so we'll let you go and get back to work there. Mike Hanna reporting live from Prague by phone this morning.

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