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Summary for: Czech news in brief for July 18: Saturday's top afternoon headlines
Bus crash near Znojmo injures 47 people
This afternoon's top story
A head-on collision between two buses near Znojmo left 47 people injured, with emergency crews treating passengers and closing the main road between Brno and Znojmo. Meanwhile, forecasters warn of more storms bringing strong winds, hail, and heavy rain across Czechia on Sunday. Happy Saturday, here’s your curated look at this afternoon’s news.
Bus crash near Znojmo injures 47 people
Two regional buses collided head-on near Oleksovice in the Znojmo area on Saturday morning, injuring 47 people. Emergency crews treated seven passengers with moderate to serious injuries and transported others to hospitals in Brno and Znojmo. The crash occurred on the main road between Brno and Znojmo.
Traffic impact: The road near the Lechovice junction was closed, with police diverting traffic and regional bus services operating with delays.
More top headlines
Government likely to back school phone ban
The Czech government is likely to support a proposal from Prime Minister Andrej Babiš and Education Minister Robert Plaga to ban mobile phone use in schools. The measure would apply to kindergartens, primary schools, and lower grades of multi-year secondary schools, with exceptions for health needs or educational purposes.
School rules: The proposal would allow schools to set rules for storing phones and responding to violations. A children’s ombudsman opposes the nationwide ban, saying schools can already regulate phone use themselves.
Train crash probe points to system failures
A draft report by the Railway Inspection Authority says the 2024 train collision in Pardubice may have involved not only driver error but also failures by the Transport Ministry. The crash between a RegioJet passenger train and a ČD Cargo freight train killed four people and injured 22 others.
Safety concerns: Investigators found trains were operating without active safety systems during station reconstruction. The final report has not yet been released and may still change.
Dry summer threatens Czech berry harvest
Czechs collected more than 31,000 tons of forest berries and mushrooms last year, with the harvest valued at CZK 7.25 billion. Mushrooms remained the most popular find, followed by blueberries and raspberries, but this year’s season is being affected by ongoing drought.
Forest conditions: Experts say blueberries are scarce in some areas and mushrooms have yet to appear in large numbers, though rainfall could quickly improve the season.
News you can use
Storm warning issued across Czechia Sunday
Strong thunderstorms are expected across most of Czechia on Sunday, with possible wind gusts, hail, and heavy rainfall, according to the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Storms are forecast to move from southwest Bohemia through Vysočina toward Moravia during the day.
Weather warning: Winds could reach 70 km/h, with localized rainfall of up to 30 millimeters. Authorities warn of possible flooding, fallen trees, and transport or power disruptions. Southern Moravia remains at elevated fire risk due to dry conditions.
POLL RESULTS: We asked readers whether they support the return of electronic sales registration (EET) in 2027. More than half of respondents said EET will help ensure businesses pay their fair share of taxes, while 32 percent said it creates unnecessary costs and bureaucracy. Twelve percent said they do not expect it to make much difference either way.
