Europe counts cost of heavy flooding

Parts of central and eastern Europe are counting the cost of heavy flooding that has left at least eight people dead over the past two days.

The deaths occurred in the Czech Republic, but several countries, including Austria, endured similar conditions.

In Vienna’s Albertina Museum workers rushed to save priceless works of art from the rising waters.

The museum’s director Klaus Albrecht Schroeder said: “We have special teams monitoring the situation. If there’s a problem they bring the artworks outside. At the moment we’re confident no damage has been done to the paintings.”

Austria has recorded its heaviest downpours in 50 years. The flooding has mainly affected towns along the River Danube in the north and west of the country.

A doctor whose clinic was flooded said: “Our whole existence has been destroyed. All my life’s work is under three quarters of a meter of water. All my equipment and furniture is under water.”

Austria has put 10,000 soldiers on standby to cope with the flooding and try to prevent further damage.

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tags: Austria, Czech Republic, Natural disasters