SALZBURG, Austria, June 2 (UPI) -- Central and eastern European officials issued disaster warnings as several people died or disappeared due to floods caused by heavy rains.
Czech Republic Prime Minister Petr Necas said 200 soldiers were deployed to assist authorities in Prague and other areas, BosNewsLife of Budapest, Hungary, reported Sunday.
Security forces and firefighters placed metal walls along the Vltava River to keep it from flooding and endangering Prague's 1.3 million inhabitants and the city's historic district, and started evacuating Francis Hospital and other sites, the BosNewsLife reported.
In the town of Hostinne, helicopters were used to rescue people.
A woman in Trebenice was discovered dead in the rubble after a cottage collapsed on her due to the rushing water.
Others went missing and rising rivers caused highway closures, forced evacuations and closed-down rail lines in southern and western regions of Bohemia.
At least four people died or were missing in Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel said federal support for affected areas would be forthcoming and the army would be deployed if necessary.
Several German cities issued disaster warnings, BosNewsLife reported.
Evacuations are occurring in Austria and Switzerland.
Overflowing Danube and other Austrian rivers flooded entire villages and the fire brigade worked through the night to pump out building and keep roads clear. In Salzburg, an electric power station was submerged.
Budapest authorities reported flooding in some places, but more is expected Tuesday when the Danube's lower embankment most likely will be under water, BosNewsLife reported.
