Central Europe on alert for flooding

Four people have died and at least eight are missing as torrential rains in central Europe caused landslides and took rivers to dangerously high levels.

Emergency operations are under way in Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic to deal with record levels of flooding in some places.

Thousands of homes across the region have been evacuated.

The Czech capital, Prague, is on high alert amid fears that floodwater could swamp its historic centre.

Main roads in many areas of central Europe have been closed and rail services cut. In some areas, electricity has been turned off as a precaution.

In Prague, underground stations were closed and businesses and schools shut as city officials braced themselves to see whether the Vltava River would flood its banks. Animals from the city's zoo were also evacuated.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas called a special cabinet session on Sunday to co-ordinate the emergency response, and around 1,000 troops have been mobilised to help erect metal barriers and fill sandbags.

"We will do everything to protect people's lives and health," he said. "Tonight and tomorrow will be critical."

In Germany, Bavaria's flood alert service warns that the forecast of continuing heavy rain is likely to worsen the flooding affecting the Danube and the Inn, among other rivers in the area.

The German cities of Passau and Rosenheim have declared a state of emergency, Ruvr.ru reported.

Authorities in Passau, which lies at the confluence of three rivers in Bavaria, said waters could rise above the record levels of 2002.