Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Waters Rising, People Suffering Across Europe

Aired August 14, 2002 - 08:49   ET

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

BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Waters rising, people suffering all across the continent of Europe. More now on those fierce storms and that fast flooding there. Some people say it looks like a rushing current (ph) in Venice, but actually, this is the city of Prague, facing its worst flooding in generation, worse flooding in that city in 100 years, worse in the country in 50 years.
Already reporting about 200,000 forced from their homes inside the Czech Republic, CNN's Mike Hanna on the scene, watching the raging river. And again, in that last report, it continues to rise.

The update now, Mike. Good afternoon to you there.

MIKE HANNA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill.

And the Vltava River continues to inch upwards, still waiting for the crest of this raging flood to occur. Great concern to the authorities to see exactly how extensive the flood damage is going to be.

But as you can see, this river is absolutely pouring down through the middle of the old city of Prague. On the other side of the river there, you have the area called the smaller quarter. That has been very badly hit in these floods.

There you can see the water tearing into the bridge, the Czech Bridge. You can see the force with which it is hitting the arches of the bridge and the statues. Much damage has been done to bridges upriver as well.

Certainly, the effects of this flood absolutely devastating. Tens of thousands have been evacuated from this immediate vicinity. The water is rising inch by inch. We understand that upstream, the conditions are getting easier. What is happening now is that the water is coming down.

All around me, the rescue workers are still at work. They are boarding, using sandbags, trying to prevent the water from spilling over into the old city, which is on my right. The area has been cordoned off completely. It was very difficult for us to get to this position. We had to pass through these series of police checkpoints. Ordinary citizens not allowed to move in this area at all. They've been kept away, and ordered not to hinder the work of those attempting to shore up the sides of the banks of the river in order to prevent the waters from flooding into the old city, on my right, the historical city, and of course the old quarter, which has been badly devastated on my left. Along the river on both sides, great damage to famous buildings, historic buildings, including the national theater, a symbol of Czech culture. That has been flooded. The mayor's office has been evacuated. And the authorities are still saying, the water's rising, they expect it to peak within the next couple hours. The damage has been very, very serious, indeed, and it could prom to be even more devastating -- Bill.

HEMMER: Mike, two questions here, just to clarify a few points here. What's in the forecast, as you come upon the crest in a few hours from now? Second, how high are we above the normal flood stage right now?

HANNA: Well, in terms of the first question, what happens basically, the city authorities don't know. They hope that their shoring attempts, the sandbags that they've put down, the flood breaks that they've erected in various areas will be enough to contain the water, even when it reaches its peak. That is a hope; that is not a certainty.

In terms of the actual level of the water, well, it's risen some eight to nine meters over the past 24 hours, a considerable extent, but it's not only the waters rising. All around me as well, the water table beyond this river is rising as well, causing seepage into buildings, as much as half a mile into various areas around here. And of course, you've seen with the strength of that torrent, Bill, an immensely powerful moving 30 times as quickly as it does in other years -- Bill.

HEMMER: Just amazing stuff here, Mike, and the videotape really takes us back. As you mentioned, the flood stage about 25 to 30 feet above the normal limit. Major headaches there.

Thank you, Mike. Mike Hanna reporting in Prague.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com