Czech news in brief for August 15: Saturday's top morning headlines

Czech tourists in Croatia are returning home after a wildfire near Omiš sent hundreds fleeing through smoke and blocked roads, while Prague Airport has reopened its main runway after months of work. Meanwhile, Czechia is heading into another scorching weekend, with heat warnings issued throughout the country. Good morning, here's your headline mix.

Czech tourists evacuated from a major wildfire near Croatia’s Omis have described rapidly spreading flames, heavy smoke and chaotic efforts to escape the fire. Some fled with only essential belongings, while others were evacuated by boats after roads became blocked by traffic. Some tourists have been allowed to return for belongings as conditions improve, while others lost their accommodations and documents in the fire.

Official response: The Czech consulate in Split will remain open throughout the weekend to assist those affected, while authorities continue to warn of power outages and road closures in the area.

Flight operations at Prague Airport have returned to the main runway after a 4.5-month closure for modernization work. The second phase included 14 airport construction and technology projects costing more than CZK 1 billion, including runway taxiway upgrades, new fencing and replacement of LED navigation lights.

What’s next: Airport officials say no similarly extensive closures are planned in the coming years. A parallel runway is planned for after 2030, with the airport currently awaiting final approval for its construction.

Czechia should have enough natural gas for the coming heating season despite currently lower storage levels, Industry and Trade Minister Karel Havlíček told Novinky.cz. He said gas prices remain significantly higher than earlier this year and could push up household and business energy bills.

What we know: Gas storage facilities are approaching 65 percent capacity, according to Havlíček, while the government is seeking longer-term supply contracts with the United States, Azerbaijan, Norway and Algeria. He also said Czechia plans to continue developing small modular nuclear reactors as part of its future energy mix.

Police stopped a 14-year-old boy driving an Audi at 193 kilometers per hour near Obědovice, outside Hradec Králové, on Thursday evening. The speed limit on the road was 90 kph, police said. The boy told officers the car belonged to his father, who later said he had allowed his son to drive it only on private property. A breathalyzer and drug test were negative.

Father fined: The father was fined for allowing an unlicensed driver to operate the vehicle. Because of the boy’s age, police will not pursue the case but will notify child protection authorities. Czech drivers can normally obtain a license at 18, or at 17 under the supervised L17 system, which requires a qualified mentor.

Czechia will see another very hot weekend, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees Celsius on Saturday and up to 37 on Sunday. The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute has issued a heat warning nationwide, with a higher level of danger for parts of South Moravia, where heat stress will be particularly severe. Fire risk will also remain elevated because of the hot and dry conditions.

Scattered storms: Showers and thunderstorms are most likely in western and northwestern Bohemia on Sunday, while rainfall will become less likely farther east. A significant cooldown is expected Monday, when temperatures will fall to 20-25 degrees alongside widespread rain and showers.