Huge power outage hits holiday hotspot as people 'trapped in elevators'

Following reports that a Skoda factory in the region has seen workers down tools, it is now reported that production lines have also stopped at a Toyota factory nearby in Kolin due to the massive power outage.

A Toyota spokesman, Tomáš Paroubek, told reporters: "We let employees whose morning shift ended at 2pm go home earlier; around noon.

"We have been waiting for the electricity supply to be restored since 12pm, both in the halls and in the administrative buildings.

"Backup sources are running and provide basic safety functions."

Production at a Škoda car factory in Mladá Boleslav is at a standstill three hours after a power outage began, according to workers.

The production lines stopped at 12 noon local time (about 11am BST) and are yet ro resume.

One worker told the local mesdia: "We are still at a standstill, even though the electricity is already working.

"There are demanding technologies all over the line that need to be put into operation, it could take even longer."

Prague's transport system is expected to be fully operational again shortly.

The city's Deputy Mayor Zdeněk Hřib has said the network is expected to be back to full operation at around 3pm local time - about 2pm BST.

Images shared on social media show ATMs down across the city.

Major power cut in #Prague, #czechia. It started around noon, 2 hours ago. ATMs are off. pic.twitter.com/Ai1R626ck0

— Joss (@SylvainJoss) July 4, 2025

The National Center for Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime in the Czech Republic says it currently has no information that the power outage is the result of a cyber or terrorist attack.

The Czech Police also posted on X the same message. It read: "NCTEKK [National Center for Combating Terrorism, Extremism and Cybercrime] has no information at this time that this is a cyber/terrorist attack.

Despite people being unable to access cash from ATMs the Czech Banking Association has confirmed mobile and internet banking has been unaffected by the power outage.

Spokesman Radek Šalša has said that their data centre sites, which run their online banking and mobile apps, have back up generators.

Branches of banks however are likely to be closed across the region.

Traffic lights are out on many major highways.

Police officers have been seen standing in the road, attempting to direct traffic with their arms and blowing whistles.

Drivers on smaller roads are also having to fend for themselves as they approach junctions with caution.

The power outage in the Czech Republic is affecting six main regions.

Prague, Central Bohemia, Liberec, Ústí nad Labem, Hradec Kralove and Šumperk have all been affected today.

Some of the outlying regions are reporting their power being restored, but the captial Prague and many other areas are still without mains power.

A hospital which was hit by the huge power outage has said it is "fine" after switching to back-up power sources.

Příbram Regional Hospital is now using a combination of back up sources including diesel generators to keep powering the wards while the main electricity is off.

It's spokesman Martin Janota said: "Everything is fine with us for now, we are on standby. We have backup power sources and diesel generators ready in case of a power outage."

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has urged people affected by the power outage in Prague to remain patient.

He posted on social media site X to say: "We are facing an extraordinary and unpleasant situation and everyone is working intensively to restore electricity supplies.

"That is the priority now.

"We thank everyone for their patience."

Firefighters across Prague are responding to two seperate issues related to the ongoing power outage.

Crews are racing to help people trapped across the city, mainly in elevators that shut down when the electricity stopped.

They are also heading out to numerous calls about smole pouring from residential buildings and commercial sites as back-up diesel generators are switched on.

Prague firefighters spokesman Miroslav Řezáč said: "We now have a lot of cases where we are responding to various locations around Prague for these reasons.

"They are also receiving a large number of reports of smoke from buildings due to diesel generators being switched on."

The main international airport in Prague - Václav Havel Airport - is reportedly not affected by the power outage.

The Czech Republic's Minister of Transport Martin Kupka posted on social media to ask passengers to remain calm.

He said: "I ask all passengers for their understanding and patience.

"Energy workers are working to fix the problem as quickly as possible.

"Prague Airport was not affected by the power outage.

"Highway tunnels also remain in operation."

Charles Reyna-Demes told the Mirror they were in their hotel doing laundry when the power outage began.

They said: "Lost power in my hotel and in this other building. I’m in doing laundry.

"Entire power shut down.

"People are not freaking out though streets are calm."

Prime Minister Petr Fiala has given a very short comment about the crisis hitting his captial city.

He said: "We are investigating the causes and solving the problem."

The cause of the power outage is being investigated as a priority, a spokesman for ČEPS - the Czech electricty board - has said.

"There was a power outage on the V411 line and subsequently an island operation in the north and east of the Czech Republic," spokesman Lukáš Hrabal said.

"Part of the transmission system is without voltage, the event also affected a larger part of the transmission system's substations.

"The causes are being investigated, and ČEPS energy engineers are working intensively to restore electricity supplies."

People are struggling to acces their cash this morning as the power outage is affecting ATMs across Prague.

It is not known if card payments are affected at this stage.

A police spokeswoman said officer are not yet fully aware of the situation but are responding as best they can.

"We are finding out what is happening. We are recording the complications ourselves," Kristýna Zelinková said.

Prague's metro city has been halted as a power outage affects a vast area.

All three lines - A, B and C - have come to a stop. It is not yet known if people are still on board or whether they have been evacuated.