Czech officials have declared a state of emergency in seven flood-hit regions while rivers continued to rise in neighbouring European countries today, forcing evacuations in some areas.

The Czech cabinet has declared a state of emergency in seven regions, allowing easier handling of the flood crisis caused by rising rivers.

Prague braced for flooding today and 10,000 people were evacuated from their homes in a south-eastern town as rivers, swollen by rain and melting snow, rose to dangerous levels.