Prague  - Flash floods in the northern Czech Republic have claimed 13 lives, according to Czech media reports on Sunday.

A man was reported to have drowned in the city of Jesenik, the CTK news agency reported. He had been reported missing the previous day.

A volunteer fireman drowned in Jesenik Saturday.

In the country's north, around 500 soldiers were deployed to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the floods since Wednesday. (dpa)