Prague faces 'worst moment'

Emergency workers have been laying sandbags as the river reaches its high water mark

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (CNN) -- Sandbags and flood barriers are under maximum pressure in the Czech capital as the city faces up to its "worst moment."

Czech flood officials said Prague could face a second surge of flood water, making worse what is already the city's worst flood in 200 years, as the raging River Vltava reached its crest.

Powerful floods have now killed 94 people across Europe, including five new deaths in Germany on Wednesday.

About 50,000 Prague residents have been evacuated, including those in the historic Old Town, as emergency workers continued laying sandbags along the rising River Vltava and outside buildings.

River authority spokesman Vaclav Baca told The Associated Press: "It is the beginning of the worst moment. All of the flood barriers are at their maximum level."

CNN NewsPass VIDEO CNN's Jim Boulden says the flooding in Prague threatens the heart of the ancient city (August 14) Play video Europe's historic old cities under threat of flooding(August 13) Play video   MORE STORIES • Dresden under water  • Eyewitness: Prague gripped by fear  • Q&A: Europe's extreme weather  • On the Scene: Russians search for flood victims    EXTRA INFORMATION Images of flooding in central and eastern Europe    YOUR SAY • Are you hit by the floods? E-mail  your stories   RESOURCES • Prague: Five-day weather forecast    QUOTE "We are working on the assumption that this afternoon we will be facing a major crisis." -- John Sparrow Int. Red Cross

Eight people have died in the floods in the Czech Republic but damage to the city's medieval buildings cannot be assessed until the levels of muddy water, covering many first and second floors, recede.

Workers were fighting to save the 14th century Charles Bridge, one of the city's most popular landmarks, while soldiers and hundreds of volunteers have also been putting up defences to protect Mala Strana, the city's picturesque medieval quarter.

The Vltava is about 7.25 metres (22 feet) above its normal summer levels, and rising about 15 centimetres per hour, a crisis centre official said.

Prague Mayor Igor Nemec remained optimistic, telling Reuters that the Old Town should remain safe.

Other countries badly hit include Romania, Austria and Germany. "We are very concerned about Romania," John Sparrow, of the International Red Cross, said.

"Fifteen thousand people, mainly in rural areas have been affected, and 5,000 hectares of cultivated land is covered.

"Tragically, people's livelihoods have been affected. The tragedy will not end with the retreat of the waters. It is a very difficult time ahead."

Seven people have died in flooding and gale force winds in Romania including a 24-year-old woman and her baby.

A total of 88 people are feared to have drowned in the floods across Europe during the past week, with the worst hit being the Black Sea coast of Russia where 58 are thought to have died.

Relief workers have been adding sandbags to the protective walls on the banks of the Vltava River in Prague while aid workers have been supplying food and water to those forced to flee their homes to evacuation centres in suburban schools in the capital.

Some of the streets are accessible by boat only while electricity has been cut across much of the city.

Prague municipal workers arrived at the city hall before dawn to save documents in offices in the river's path.

About 400 animals at Prague's zoo were moved to higher ground using cranes but a 35-year-old Indian elephant called Kadir had to be put down after becoming stranded while a rhinoceros also died.

Resident Pavel Tichy, told CNN: "Just the roof can be seen from our manufacturing plant. I could swim in my office among the pieces of furniture and paper files. The family business which we built for 10 years is gone within two days! "

Czech President Vaclav Havel cut short his vacation in Portugal and was reported to be returning to Prague to deal with the emergency.

WWII-style exodus

Evacuation orders were issued for seven of the city's 10 districts, but authorities said many people were staying put. The Jewish quarter as well as other areas in the centre of Prague are expected to flood later on Wednesday.

Kadir, the 35-year-old elephant, failed to escape the Prague floods

"The city is panicking and people are buying food like crazy. No one knows what to expect," Prague office worker Monika Vegh told CNN.

"Seeing people carrying suitcases and hurrying to flee the centre evokes memories of scenes not witnessed since World War II.

The Czech government declared a state of emergency for Prague and central and southern Bohemia on Monday, as well as for the cities of Plzen and Ceske Budejovice and the spa town of Karlovy Vary. Many roads and bridges across the Western part of the country are closed.

Experts say damage could top the 60 billion crowns ($1.88 billion) incurred in the 1997 floods when nearly 50 people died.

The flooding is being called the worst for a century also in Austria, where thousands of people have been evacuated from the Salzburg and Upper Austria provinces. Johannes Guger, head of international relations for the Red Cross, told CNN that seven people had been killed in the floods. (Full Story)

Eight thousand soldiers and firefighters were battling to shore up weakening dykes with sandbags, but the raging Danube forced its way through dams in the town of Ybbs in Lower Austria province.

More than 1,000 buildings in Salzburg are under water, Austrian radio reported.

"We're sitting here in a bathtub without a plug," Alfred Riedl, the Mayor of Grafenwoerth in Lower Austria, was quoted by The Associated Press as saying. He described an "almost deserted" ghost town after authorities evacuated the village.

The eastern state of Saxony has seen its worst flooding in its history, claiming six lives, state officials told Reuters. (Full story)

The historic city of Dresden has waist-high water, after the river Elbe witnessed unprecedented levels, forcing 30,000 residents to flee.

Among the dead are a 71-year-old man who drowned on Monday night in Dresden. German authorities said two other adults and a child were missing after being swept away by a cascade of mud and water.

Russia has suffered twice this summer from severe flooding. Most of the victims in the latest downpours have been Russian tourists taking their holidays on the Black Sea.

Many of the 58 victims were swept away by swiftly moving water late last week.

Authorities fear the toll could rise. Thirty cars and buses remain on the sea floor, with authorities having been unable to search them yet.

The situation could be complicated by new storm warnings being issued for the area. (Full Story)

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