Orlík Reservoir houseboat fire kills elderly man

An elderly man has died following a houseboat fire at the Orlík Reservoir near Sobědraž. The incident occurred on a Saturday morning when the man was likely handling gas cylinders and fire, leading to a blaze that consumed the entire residential vessel.

Emergency responders, including professional firefighters from Milevsko and Písek and volunteers from Hrejkovice, faced significant challenges due to the sandy and difficult terrain. Because water tankers could not reach the site, crews had to manually carry hoses and pumps to the water's edge. Water rescuers arrived by boat to assist the victim, who was eventually airlifted to a hospital in České Budějovice. Despite medical intervention, he succumbed to his injuries.

The fire caused damages estimated at 60,000 CZK. Criminal investigators from Písek are currently investigating the incident, which is suspected to have been caused by negligence.