Polish floods threaten Warsaw; 7 killed

Seven people have been killed by flash floods sweeping central Europe since last weekend, five of them in southern Poland, while thousands have been forced from their homes.

In southern Poland, which has borne the brunt of the disaster so far, television footage showed stranded residents being rescued from rooftops by helicopter or rowing across fields turned into lakes after days of heavy rain caused rivers to break their banks.

"I expect the losses will top 2 billion euros ($2.48 billion) and I know we will have to find more funds. We will reduce other spending to achieve that," Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters during a tour of the worst affected regions.

In Warsaw flood waters had already entered some riverside restaurants. The depth of the river Vistula is expected to reach 7.8 metres by Friday from the usual three to four metres.

In southern Poland firemen said many people have been reluctant to evacuate for fear of being burgled.

Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic have also been hit badly by the floods; Kazinform cites China Daily.