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Floodwaters threaten central Europe Floodwaters threaten central Europe
(about 4 hours later)
Authorities in parts of central Europe issued disaster warnings and scrambled to reinforce flood defences on Sunday as rivers swollen by days of heavy rain threatened to burst their banks. Raging waters from three rivers poured into the old town of Passau in south-east Germany on Monday, one of the cities worst hit by flooding that has spread across a large area of central Europe.
Several people have died since Thursday or are missing in the floods in Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. Some residents in south-western Poland have also been evacuated from flooding. Rescuers used boats to transport residents from flooded parts of the city to dry land as officials warned that water levels – already the highest in 70 years – could rise further.
Czech officials said special metal walls had been erected in Prague to prevent flooding as the Vltava river approached critical levels. A spokesman for the city's crisis centre said much of Passau was inaccessible by foot and the electricity supply had been shut down as a precaution.
The city's interim mayor, Tomas Hudecek, said authorities were shutting down eight stations of the capital's metro network and urging people not to travel. Three metro lines in central Prague would remain closed on Monday, as would all schools, he said. "The situation is extremely dramatic," Herbert Zillinger told the Associated Press.
Water from the Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers rose above markers set in 1954, when the city suffered its worst flooding in living memory. Zillinger said levels would continue to rise throughout the day.
At least six people were reported to have died and seven were missing due to floods in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic following days of heavy rainfall.
Czech authorities were working to erect further protective metal barriers along the Vltava river, which also flows through the capital of Prague.
The interim mayor, Tomas Hudecek, said no major evacuations were planned, but animals from a zoo located by the river had been taken to safety. Parts of the city's subway network had also been shut down because of flooding.
Two people were found dead in the nearby town of Trebenice, one of them a woman discovered in the rubble after a summer cottage collapsed due to the raging water, Czech public television reported. At least three other people have been reported missing.Two people were found dead in the nearby town of Trebenice, one of them a woman discovered in the rubble after a summer cottage collapsed due to the raging water, Czech public television reported. At least three other people have been reported missing.
Many roads and train lines were closed, including the main one from Prague to the eastern part of the country.Many roads and train lines were closed, including the main one from Prague to the eastern part of the country.
The Czech prime minister, Petr Necas, said 300 soldiers had been deployed to help local authorities and up to 2,000 placed on standby. The government declared a state of emergency in six regions.The Czech prime minister, Petr Necas, said 300 soldiers had been deployed to help local authorities and up to 2,000 placed on standby. The government declared a state of emergency in six regions.
Thousands of people have had to be evacuated from their homes across the country. In Prague, authorities ordered the evacuation of parts of the city's zoo near the river and patients from a Prague hospital were moved to higher ground. Thousands of people have had to be evacuated from their homes across the country.
In Germany, where at least four people have died or are missing, the chancellor, Angela Merkel, promised federal support for affected areas and said the army would be deployed if necessary. The German army has deployed hundreds of soldiers to help local authorities and volunteers reinforce flood defences, particularly in the south and east of the country. The chancellor, Angela Merkel, planned to visit flood-hit areas on Tuesday, her spokesman said.
Several cities, including Chemnitz in the east, and Passau and Rosenheim in the south, issued disaster warnings.Several cities, including Chemnitz in the east, and Passau and Rosenheim in the south, issued disaster warnings.
Passau's mayor, Juergen Dupper, warned that the water may rise above the record levels of 2002in the city, which lies at the confluence of three rivers.
Large stretches of the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers have been closed to shipping traffic, the German news agency DPA reported.Large stretches of the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers have been closed to shipping traffic, the German news agency DPA reported.
Evacuations were also taking place in parts of Austria, Switzerland and Poland.Evacuations were also taking place in parts of Austria, Switzerland and Poland.
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