Floods in Europe Near Peak as Merkel Tours Disaster Areas
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Floodwaters that inundated Prague and swamped large areas of central Europe may peak today as emergency crews work to open river traffic, drain submerged neighborhoods and count the cost of the storm damage.
Chancellor Angela Merkel began a tour of flooded regions in Germany as forecasters struggled to predict exactly when rivers including the Elbe, Danube and Rhine will crest. States of emergency in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria remain in force after firefighters, soldiers and volunteers widened evacuation zones and tried to stem flooding that spread even as rain abated. Nine people were confirmed dead and six are missing in the Czech Republic and Austria. Local media reported three deaths in Germany.