Hřensko sandstone rockfall hits parking lot near Hotel Praha

Large sandstone boulders fell from a slope onto a parking lot near Hotel Praha in Hřensko following heavy rain and strong winds. No injuries or vehicle damage were reported, though minor damage occurred to a stone wall and a path.

Authorities from the Bohemian Switzerland National Park, along with firefighters, police, and local officials, worked to secure the area and remove the fallen rocks. Park spokesperson Tomáš Salov stated that the site has been stabilized and no further immediate danger of falling rocks or debris remains. While most of the area is accessible, a portion of the parking lot was closed preventatively.

The rockfall occurred where high-load barriers overlap. These barriers, originally built in 2014 and 2015, are subject to ongoing maintenance, with some repairs still pending following a major fire in 2022. Officials noted that the weather conditions contributed to the sandstone loosening from its substrate.