Large parts of Central Europe and Germany remained on flood alert Wednesday, with mass evacuations continuing as flood crests reached more towns and the death toll rose to 15. The Elbe river has burst its banks and has flooded large parts of the Czech industrial city of Usti, according to a report of DPA. Czech television said barriers erected in Strekov, a part of the city close to the river, proved unable to cope during the night and masses of water spilled over them. The water was expected to continue rushing into Usti, population 100,000, all day. The river level was 9 metres higher than usual outside the town. While days of heavy rain have ended and signs have emerged that the worst might now be over for some areas, towns and cities downstream were bracing themselves for a dramatic rise in river levels. Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria have all been hit by the disaster. More than 19,000 people in the Czech republic remained unable to return to their homes, the national firefighting service said. Road and rail links in Germany also remained blocked by water and schools were closed in many areas that have been hit by the floods. Mopping up operations have also began in some parts of Germany, including towns along the Rhine river, as flood waters subside.
