Central Europe hit by flooding

Beijing, June 3 – Authorities in parts of central Europe have issued disaster warnings as rivers swelled by days of heavy rain threaten to burst their banks.

 

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas has declared a state of emergency in seven regions, where flooding has killed at least two people. The historic center of Prague is threatened, forcing residents to evacuate from lower areas. Emergency workers are helping with relief efforts and building barriers to prevent more flooding. Authorities have shut eight stations of the capital’s subway network.

 

Many roads and train lines are also closed. All schools in Prague will be closed on Monday. Austria has reported one dead, two missing and hundreds evacuated due to flooding. Firefighters in the area had to close all local roads and place sand bags around homes and buildings.

 

Parts of Germany and Poland have also been affected. Forecasters say the rainfall will ease in the coming days.

 

Xinhua