Central Europe braces for worst floods in decades

(ANSA-AFP) - PRAGUE, SEP 12 - Flood barriers and sandbags were installed and dams emptied on Thursday as central Europe got ready for what weather services predicted could be the worst floods in decades. Forecasters in the Czech Republic and Poland said parts of their countries might record up to 400 litres of water per square metre over the next four days, while Austria and Slovakia were bracing for some 200 litres. Cultural events scheduled for the weekend were cancelled across the four countries because of the cyclone named Boris. Poland expected heavy rain especially in the south of the country, with cities on the Oder river including Wroclaw and Opole on high alert.
    Austrian TV channel ORF said the rainfall could cause the level of the Danube to rise to five-year or even ten-year-highs.
    Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on Wednesday the army was ready to deploy up to 1,000 soldiers over the weekend if need be. If forecasts for Slovakia hold, the rainfall could be heavier than during the 2013 floods, which were considered a once-in-a-thousand-year event, said the imeteo.sk website.
    (ANSA-AFP).