The water leak in the basement has closed the new building of the National Museum

Prague - This morning, the basement of the newly constructed, heritage-protected building of the Prague National Museum was flooded with water from a damaged pipeline up to 20 centimeters high. Martin Kavka, spokesman for the Prague firefighters, informed ČTK of this. The malfunction was on a public water supply, where the water had seeped into the basement, found the company Prague Waterworks and Sewerage (PVK). The damage is likely to be minimal; the new building was closed to visitors today, said Kristina Kvapilová from the National Museum.

Firefighters were called to the new building of the National Museum before 11:00. At the scene, they discovered the damaged pipeline and the water leak. "There was about 15 to 20 centimeters of water," said Kavka.

The firefighters called a museum maintenance worker and the water utility company, to whom they handed over the situation. They were also prepared to pump out the water if necessary. "It looks like our assistance is not needed there, as the water will naturally drain from the basement," added the fire department spokesman.

According to the company's spokesman, Tomáš Mrázek, PVK workers shut off the water supply in the basement. They subsequently dug a probe to find the source of the water. "It was a public water pipeline," said the PVK spokesman. Water from it seeped into the museum; the defect in the pipeline should be resolved by tonight, he added.

The museum spokesman confirmed that the water in the basement did not need to be pumped out. According to her, the damages are being assessed, but they will not be significant. "It concerns technical facilities where basically nothing is present. There is tile flooring, there are no exhibitions, no collection items," she noted. Due to the stopped water supply, the new museum building was closed today. "Without water, it is not possible to operate due to visitor comfort, restrooms, handwashing," said Kvapilová.

The new building of the National Museum was constructed for the Prague Stock Exchange and was opened in February 1938. After World War II, it housed the National Assembly and later the Federal Assembly. Since 1995, it provided facilities for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. It has belonged to the National Museum since 2006. Today, it is a cultural monument.