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Flood waters from Czech dams bear down on Prague Floods threaten Dresden as Prague river levels fall
(about 2 hours later)
River levels in the Czech Republic have risen sharply overnight after the authorities were forced to open several dams in the south of the country. Cities in southern and eastern Germany are on high alert as heavy floodwaters swell rivers including the Elbe.
In the capital Prague, flood barriers have been raised to cope with the extra water on the River Vltava. In Halle, an appeal has gone out to residents to help reinforce flood defences while Dresden is preparing for water levels 5m higher than normal.
At least seven people have died in the Czech Republic and two in Austria after severe flooding and days of heavy rain. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has promised 100m euros (£78m; $130m) in emergency aid for flood-hit areas.
Germany has drafted in the army to help with flood defences. Several cities have declared states of emergency. Meanwhile, river levels in Prague have begun to fall, say the Czech authorities, as floodwaters move north.
In the Bavarian town of Passau, floodwaters have now reached a level not seen since the 16th Century, making much of the town inaccessible. Overnight, flood barriers on the River Vltava in the south of the country were raised, releasing a torrent of water.
Charles Bridge closed However, Prague's flood defences appear to have held, and the risk of severe flooding in the city centre seems to be receding, says the BBC's correspondent there, Rob Cameron.
In the Czech Republic, a nationwide state of emergency is in force, with water levels expected to peak later on Tuesday. Water levels rise
The city of Regensburg has declared a state of emergency, while in the state of Saxony-Anhalt - which includes Dresden - officials were warning of higher water levels than during the record floods of 2002.
At least seven people have died in the Czech Republic and two in Austria after days of heavy rain.
Germany has drafted in the army to help with flood defences.
In the Bavarian town of Passau, floodwaters reached a level not seen since the 16th Century, but have now begun to recede.
Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the worst affected regions on Tuesday, flying over Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia by helicopter.
She promised 100m euros in immediate aid, of which 50m euros will go to Bavaria.
In the Czech Republic, a nationwide state of emergency is still in force. Water levels are expected to peak in the north later on Tuesday.
Around 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes across the west of the country.Around 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes across the west of the country.
On Monday morning, the River Vltava was flowing at 2,800 cubic metres per second - 10 times its normal volume - through Prague's historic centre. As a precaution, Prague's metro system and central sewage treatment plant were closed, metal flood defences were erected and sandbags built up along the banks of the Vltava.
As a precaution, the city's metro system and central sewage treatment plant were closed, metal flood defences were erected and sandbags built up along the banks of the Vltava. The Charles Bridge - normally packed with tourists - was shut and tigers at the city's zoo were tranquilised and moved out of an enclosure thought to be at risk.
The Charles Bridge - normally packed with tourists - has been closed and tigers at the city's zoo were even tranquilised and moved out of an enclosure thought to be at risk. A system of nine dams called the Vltava Cascade was found to be dangerously full, and the floodgates were opened at 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) on Monday night.
By Monday evening, the people of Prague had thought the worst was behind them, reports the BBC's Rob Cameron in the capital.
But then Prime Minister Petr Necas announced unexpectedly that a system of nine dams called the Vltava Cascade was dangerously full, and the pressure would have to be relieved.
At 20:00 local time (18:00 GMT) the floodgates on several dams were opened.
Our correspondent says the Vltava in Prague is now rising again, the situation exacerbated by several swollen tributaries.
Firemen and soldiers are raising the city's flood defences again to cope with the extra volumes of water on the Vltava, which has already burst its banks in several places.
North of Prague, further downstream, the River Elbe is rising to levels approaching those seen in 2002, the last time Europe experienced similar floods.North of Prague, further downstream, the River Elbe is rising to levels approaching those seen in 2002, the last time Europe experienced similar floods.
Seventeen people were killed in the Czech Republic then and the cost of the damage across the continent was estimated at 20bn euros (£17bn). Seventeen people were killed in the Czech Republic in August 2002 and the cost of the damage across the continent was estimated at 20bn euros (£17bn).
Disaster zoneDisaster zone
Main roads in many areas of central Europe have been closed and rail services cut. Thousands of homes are without power.Main roads in many areas of central Europe have been closed and rail services cut. Thousands of homes are without power.
In Austria, the meteorological service said two months of rain had fallen in just two days.In Austria, the meteorological service said two months of rain had fallen in just two days.
Floods across Central EuropeFloods across Central Europe
A man was found dead near Salzburg after being swept away as he worked to clear a landslip, and another man who had been listed as missing was found dead in the western state of Vorarlberg. Three people remain missing. One man was found dead near Salzburg and another in the western state of Vorarlberg. Three people remain missing.
More than 300 people were moved from their homes in Salzburg and the neighbouring Tyrol as the army worked with the civil authorities to clear landslides and make roads passable. Parts of the Pinzgau region, which includes Taxenbach, have been declared a disaster zone. More than 300 people were moved from their homes in Salzburg and the neighbouring Tyrol as the army worked with the civil authorities to clear landslides and make roads passable. Parts of the Pinzgau region have been declared a disaster zone.
'Extremely dramatic''Extremely dramatic'
In Germany, the army said it had sent 1,760 soldiers to southern and eastern areas to help local authorities reinforce flood defences.In Germany, the army said it had sent 1,760 soldiers to southern and eastern areas to help local authorities reinforce flood defences.
The Bavarian towns of Passau and Rosenheim declared states of emergency, as forecasters warned of continuing heavy rain and a high risk of flooding from several rivers, including the Danube. Towns and cities in Saxony, Thuringia and Baden-Wuerttemberg have also been inundated.
Water levels in Passau, where the Danube is joined by the Inn and Ilz rivers, were at their highest since 1501 and might rise further, the DPA news agency said.
Much of the city is inaccessible on foot and the electricity supply has been cut as a precaution. Inmates at a prison in danger of being flooded have also been moved.
Towns and cities in Saxony, Thuringia and Baden-Wuerttemberg have also been inundated. The army has been deployed to help with the emergency effort.
In northern Saxony, water levels on the River Mulde were said to be particularly high.
A large area of Eilenburg north-east of Leipzig was evacuated, reports said, with 7,000 people being taken to emergency shelters.
Shipping was halted on parts of the Danube and Rhine rivers in Germany, and the entire length of the Danube in Austria. The rivers are used heavily to transport commodities such as grain and coal.Shipping was halted on parts of the Danube and Rhine rivers in Germany, and the entire length of the Danube in Austria. The rivers are used heavily to transport commodities such as grain and coal.
An emergency taskforce has been set up by the federal government, and Chancellor Angela Merkel plans to visit affected areas on Tuesday.
The European Union has said it stands ready to help the three countries as they tackle the devastating floods.The European Union has said it stands ready to help the three countries as they tackle the devastating floods.
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico also warned that there was a risk of flooding as water moved down the Danube, which flows through Bratislava.Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico also warned that there was a risk of flooding as water moved down the Danube, which flows through Bratislava.
"We are getting bad news from Germany and Austria. We have to do all we can to protect... the capital," he said."We are getting bad news from Germany and Austria. We have to do all we can to protect... the capital," he said.
The head of Hungary's National Disaster Authority, Gyorgy Bakondi, said 400 people were working on flood defences in the capital, Budapest, where he said the level of the Danube might reach or even exceed the height seen in 2002.The head of Hungary's National Disaster Authority, Gyorgy Bakondi, said 400 people were working on flood defences in the capital, Budapest, where he said the level of the Danube might reach or even exceed the height seen in 2002.
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