Climate scientists troubled by damage from floods ravaging central Europe

Experts unsurprised at intensity of extreme weather but say damage wreaked shows how unprepared world is

The flooded Elbe flows along the partially collapsed Carola Bridge on Tuesday in Dresden, Germany. Picture: Robert Michael/dpa via AP

Picturesque towns across central Europe are inundated by dirty flood water after heavy weekend rains turned tranquil streams into raging rivers that wreaked havoc on infrastructure.

The floods have killed at least 15 people and destroyed buildings from Austria to Romania. The destruction comes after devastating floods around the world last week, when entire villages were submerged in Myanmar and nearly 300 prisoners escaped a collapsed jail in Nigeria, where floods have affected more than one million people.