Ten killed in Czech flash floods

The river Odra burst its banks in Jesenik nad Odrou

At least 10 people have died in floods that have wreaked havoc in the eastern Czech Republic.

Towns and villages were lashed by torrential rain in North Moravia, causing rivers to burst their banks.

The victims included two brothers who drowned in a house as they tried to save their mother.

Several elderly people apparently died from heart attacks as rescuers could not reach them in time. About 1,000 soldiers are helping the relief effort.

Hundreds of residents have been evacuated.

The BBC's Rob Cameron in Prague says these are the worst floods in North Moravia for more than a decade.

The town of Novy Jicin witnessed up to 80mm (three inches) of rain within two hours.

Floodwaters in the area are now receding, but forecasters say there is more heavy rain to come, and the major city of Ostrava is bracing itself for the worst.

Neighbouring Austria has also been hit by floods in areas west of Vienna. Priceless artworks have been rescued from a basement storage facility that was leaking in the capital's Albertina Museum.