Disaster notices issued in parts of central Europe
Source: Agencies |
June 3, 2013, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AUTHORITIES in parts of central Europe issued disaster warnings and scrambled to reinforce flood defenses yesterday as rivers swelled by days of heavy rain threatened to burst their banks.
Several people have died or are missing in the floods in Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since Thursday.
Czech officials warned that the waters of the Vltava river could reach critical levels in Prague late yesterday.
Czech soldiers erected metal barriers and piled up sandbags yesterday to protect Prague's historic center from flooding after days of heavy rains swelled rivers and forced evacuations from some low-laying areas.
Prague authorities also limited public transport and closed underground stations as water from the Vltava River overflowed into parts of the Old Town.
The historic area is a UNESCO heritage site boasting hundreds of well-preserved buildings, churches and monuments dating back to the 14th Century, including the Charles Bridge that straddles the Vltava.
"Due to the current situation, I have declared a state of danger for the area of the capital city," acting mayor Tomas Hudecek told a news conference.
The floods that have killed at least one person and left several missing across the Czech Republic. Rising rivers have forced evacuations, highway closures and the shutting of rail lines throughout western and southern Bohemia.
In Germany, where at least four people have died or are missing, Chancellor Angela Merkel promised federal support for affected areas and said the army would be deployed if necessary.
Several cities including Chemnitz in the east, and Passau and Rosenheim in the south, issued disaster warnings.
Passau, which is located at the confluence of three rivers, could see waters rise above record levels of 2002, said Mayor Juergen Dupper.
German news agency dpa said that large stretches of the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers have been closed to ship traffic.
Evacuations are also taking place in neighboring Austria and Switzerland.
Meteorologists are predicting the rainfall will ease in coming days.
Several people have died or are missing in the floods in Germany, the Czech Republic and Switzerland since Thursday.
Czech officials warned that the waters of the Vltava river could reach critical levels in Prague late yesterday.
Czech soldiers erected metal barriers and piled up sandbags yesterday to protect Prague's historic center from flooding after days of heavy rains swelled rivers and forced evacuations from some low-laying areas.
Prague authorities also limited public transport and closed underground stations as water from the Vltava River overflowed into parts of the Old Town.
The historic area is a UNESCO heritage site boasting hundreds of well-preserved buildings, churches and monuments dating back to the 14th Century, including the Charles Bridge that straddles the Vltava.
"Due to the current situation, I have declared a state of danger for the area of the capital city," acting mayor Tomas Hudecek told a news conference.
The floods that have killed at least one person and left several missing across the Czech Republic. Rising rivers have forced evacuations, highway closures and the shutting of rail lines throughout western and southern Bohemia.
In Germany, where at least four people have died or are missing, Chancellor Angela Merkel promised federal support for affected areas and said the army would be deployed if necessary.
Several cities including Chemnitz in the east, and Passau and Rosenheim in the south, issued disaster warnings.
Passau, which is located at the confluence of three rivers, could see waters rise above record levels of 2002, said Mayor Juergen Dupper.
German news agency dpa said that large stretches of the Rhine, Main and Neckar rivers have been closed to ship traffic.
Evacuations are also taking place in neighboring Austria and Switzerland.
Meteorologists are predicting the rainfall will ease in coming days.
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