Assembly Probes Waste‑Site Collapse That Destroyed Historic Homes

The Nord Europa Assembly's Committee on Environmental Protection opened its session on Tuesday with a stark briefing about the collapse of the Sokolov waste site on the outskirts of the town of Vysoká. The incident, which occurred late Monday night, sent a 30‑metre mound of compacted refuse sliding into adjacent residential streets, destroying three historic row houses and injuring twelve residents.

Assembly members questioned the oversight mechanisms that allowed the site, classified as a Class III landfill in 2018, to operate without a renewed safety audit. The debate moved quickly to the question of funding, as the Federal Treasury has signalled a provisional release of ₣ 12 million for emergency response and relocation assistance.

Governor Eva Novák, attending the hearing remotely, urged the Assembly to adopt stricter monitoring standards and to coordinate with the Federal Heritage Office to assess damage to the protected medieval quarter. The Minister of Civic Affairs, Beatriz Coelho, announced that a temporary shelter will be opened in the former school building on the town's eastern edge.

The committee voted to refer the matter to a special investigative panel, which will report its findings before the end of the month. The panel's mandate includes reviewing the landfill's licensing history and recommending legislative changes. The Assembly will reconvene on Friday to consider the panel's preliminary recommendations.