Raging waters from three rivers have poured into the old town of Passau in south east Germany, one of the cities worst hit by the flooding that has spread across a large area of central Europe.

Officials across central Europe issued disaster warnings and scrambled to reinforce flood defences as rivers swelled by days of heavy rain threatened to burst their banks.

Authorities in parts of central Europe issued disaster warnings and scrambled to reinforce flood defences yesterday as rivers swelled by days of heavy rain threatened to burst their banks.

A state of emergency has been issued in the Czech Republic as swollen rivers - caused by heavy rain - are threatening to damage Prague's historic centre.

A powerful blast, believed to be a gas explosion, has wrecked an office building in the centre of Prague, injuring at least 35 people and sending shock waves through the Old Town tourist district.

US president Barack Obama will deliver a major speech today, laying out his long-term goal to rid the world of nuclear arms.

Damien Enright on a journey through Eastern Europe.

Floodwaters continued to threaten Czech towns and villages in the north and south-east, preventing thousands of people from returning to their homes.

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.

The EU reference lab in Britain today confirmed tests indicate a dead swan found in the south of the Czech Republic had the H5N1 bird flu virus, an official said.

Rivers swollen by rain and melting snow flooded roads and prompted evacuations in the Czech Republic today amid flood alerts throughout the country.

THE swollen Elbe River peaked early yesterday in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, which was spared a major evacuation effort as dykes held back the floods that have left a trail of devastation upstream.

The swollen Elbe River peaked early today in the eastern German city of Magdeburg, which was spared a major evacuation effort as dikes held back the floods that have left a trail of devastation upstream.

Czechs snaked along police barriers and crowded on to riverfront lookout points to watch the waters of the muddy Vltava River recede after some of Europe's most deadly flooding in decades.

Danica Kirka, Prague

Firefighters and volunteers fought back river waters today as unprecedented flooding threatened Prague's historic Old Town and killed at least 95 people across Europe.

Police in Prague are allowing tourists back into the historic square as the threat from flooding appears to have eased.

Police cordoned off Prague’s Old Town today and ordered residents to evacuate as emergency workers tried to save the historic district.

Czech police have evacuated the Old Town of Prague due to the fears of flooding.

As many as 40,000 residents fled low-lying parts of Prague before dawn today, hours before the worst flood in more than 100 years was expected to hit the Czech capital.

Europe’s flood death toll has swelled to at least 74 as torrential rains unleashed raging waters that swept away Russian tourists, triggered landslides in Germany and Switzerland and shut down shipping on the Danube River in Austria.

At least 72 people have died across Europe as floods swept away Russian tourists, triggered landslides in Germany and Switzerland and shut down shipping on the Danube River in Austria.