Mining Catastrophes, Torrential Floods, and Explosive Mishaps

When we look at the list of the most catastrophic natural disasters throughout history, the Czech Republic may not stand out prominently, but it doesn’t mean that the region of middle Europe has been completely free from natural calamities. This area has experienced issues like floods, windstorms, hailstorms, and years of heavy rains leading to poor harvests, which have historically resulted in famines.

A bit of consolation might come from the fact that October 13 is recognized as the International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction. Established by the United Nations in 1989, this day serves to remind us that although we have advanced technology to forecast floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes, our ability to prevent these disasters remains quite limited. Essentially, nature retains a significant degree of control over us, and it seems likely that will continue to be the case for the foreseeable future.

Earthquakes and Tornadoes

The Czech Republic is not immune to the occurrence of earthquakes: it has been almost four decades since the most significant earthquake struck Cheb at the end of 1985 and the start of 1986. That tremor reached a magnitude of 4.7 on the ten-point Richter scale, causing damage such as cracked walls in homes, fallen chimneys, and plaster detaching from walls. In many areas, there was a temporary loss of water in wells.

The region that experiences the most frequent seismic activity is the Karlovy Vary Region. In the Moravian-Silesian Region, earthquakes related to mining operations occasionally occur. The last notable earthquake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale, hit Písek in March 2024, with its epicenter located near the village of Mirotice at a depth of 13 kilometers.

Even more alarming were the severe storms that unleashed hail and tornadoes on Thursday, June 24, 2021, around 7:30 in the evening, impacting several villages in South Moravia. Seven villages faced damage, particularly Moravská Nová Ves, Mikulčice, Hrušky, Lužice, and certain areas of Hodonín like Bažantnice and Pánov.

Flooding and Dam Failures

We have firsthand knowledge of the impact of floods and flash floods. Among the most significant natural disasters in the Czech Republic, the Burst Dam on the White Desna in the Jizera Mountains is particularly notable. Its history was brief, but the aftermath was catastrophic. It was intended to be part of a water canal system for both the Desná, the Black, and the White rivers. Construction began in the latter half of 1911, and both dams were finished on the same day in November 1915, but the first dam only lasted a short time—the Souš dam on the Black Desná. The second dam failed just ten months later. This tragedy resulted in the deaths of 65 individuals, with 370 people displaced from their homes and 1,020 people losing their jobs. The tidal wave caused by the dam’s failure destroyed numerous homes in Desna, including a sawmill, a hunting lodge, and many residential buildings, along with a fire station. The catastrophe is currently commemorated with a plaque on a boulder that was washed down from the mountains, along with wooden sculptures that line the paths leading to the site of the breach.

However, the flood on the Blšanka River in Podbořany and its surrounding areas on May 25 and 26, 1872, was even deadlier, claiming between 100 to 300 lives.

The Czech Republic has also faced mining-related disasters. The most significant disaster took place on May 31, 1892, at the Marie Mine in the Birch Mountains near Příbram, where a fire killed 319 miners. This catastrophe was ignited by an unextinguished oil lamp wick, which caused flames to spread to wooden supports and oil-soaked mining ropes. Many miners were either poisoned by the smoke or burned alive. The tragedy left behind 286 widows and 961 orphans, with an additional 33 children born posthumously after their fathers’ deaths. Tragically, even though the Příbram mines were at their peak, utilizing the most advanced technology of the time and producing 90 percent of Austro-Hungarian silver and lead, safety concerns were overlooked until after this disaster, which led to the establishment of mining rescue teams. To learn more about this event, one can visit the historic sites of the disaster or the expositions at the Mining Museum in Příbram.

Additional Mining Disasters

• • Major mining disasters with a high death toll include the Frantisek mine explosion on June 14, 1894, which claimed 235 lives and stands as the largest mining disaster in the Ostrava-Karviná district. This incident inspired the novel trilogy titled The Slanting Church.

• • The Nelson III mine explosion in Osek, Teplice, on January 3, 1934, resulted in the deaths of 142 individuals.

• • The largest post-war mining disaster occurred with the fire at the Dukla mine in the Havířov region on July 7, 1961, where 108 people lost their lives, the youngest victim being not even 17 years old and the oldest at 56. The tragedy left behind 63 widows, 107 orphans, and six additional children born after their fathers had passed away.

• • One of the most significant disasters in modern mining history took place on September 3, 1981, at the Pluto II mine in Louka, near Litvínov, where 65 miners lost their lives, including 15 mine rescue workers.

Dam Failures

• Bílá Desná Dam (1916)
  Ten months after its completion in September 1916, the Bílá Desná Dam tragically collapsed, unleashing a catastrophic flood downstream.

• Les Království Dam
  Perched above Dvůr Králové nad Labem, this impressive structure now houses a visitor exhibition and enjoys protection as a National Technical Monument.

Mining Disasters

• František Mine Explosion
  An explosion in the František mine remains the deadliest mining accident in the Ostrava‑Karviná district, claiming 235 lives.

Flood‑Related Sites & Routes

• Desná Memorials
  In the town of Desná, a commemorative plaque on a boulder marks the site of the dam burst. Wooden statues—donated by supporters—line the paths leading to it, inviting reflection on the tragedy.

• Road to Smědava
  Linking the Tanvald and Frýdlant regions, this scenic summer‑only route skirts the Souš Dam and offers panoramic views of the surrounding reservoirs.

Commemoration & Cultural Context

• International Day for Natural Disaster Reduction
  Established by the United Nations in 1989, April 13 is now observed worldwide to promote disaster risk awareness and resilience.

• Obelisks Article
  A dedicated study of local obelisks spotlights monuments that commemorate floods alongside other historic events—defenestrations, battles and more.

• Church of St. Peter of Alcantara
  Popularized by the bestselling saga The Leaning Church, this waterside church has become a favored excursion spot, blending literary pilgrimage with historical interest.