Central Europe braced for heavy rain and flooding forecast over the weekend

Firefighters adjust parts of the anti-flood barriers in Prague (Petr David Josek/AP)

The nations of Central Europe are bracing for severe flooding forecast to hit the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Germany, Slovakia and Hungary over the weekend.

Czech authorities were erecting metal barriers or protective walls made from sandbags, while water was released from dams to make space in reservoirs.