Thousands flee homes as Danube floodwaters rise

THE Danube river broke through flood defences in southeastern Europe yesterday, driving thousands of people from their homes along its banks in Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, officials said.

Swollen by heavy rain and melting snow from central Europe, the river hit its highest level in 111 years at the weekend, swamping ports and thousands of hectares of farmland.

Authorities evacuated 3,200 people from the village of Rast in southern Romania on Monday after the Danube breached a nearby dam and flooded the area.