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Floods in Europe Biggest Since 1890

Aired August 13, 2002 - 14:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Tens of thousands of people across Europe are fleeing their homes for higher ground. In the past week, torrential rains have submerged towns and swallowed up centuries-old buildings. The city hardest-hit is Prague, the picturesque city of spires straddling the Vltava River.
CNN's Jim Boulden joins us by telephone from the Czech capital.

Jim, what you can see?

JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Carol.

What we're seeing is the Czech people are suffering their fifth day of flooding here. The water is very high going through the Vltava River, as you said. They are suffering the highest water since 1890, 110 years. That is because two smaller rivers in the south continue to pour into that river, and that is forcing 30 times normal to go through the Vltava.

Earlier today, we saw dumptrucks full of sand rushing through the streets of Prague to shore up the embankments. They have been putting down a lot of the sandbags over the last 24 hours, but obviously, it's not enough.

They expect this water to crest sometime in the middle of the night. They thought maybe that would happen already, but the rains and the water keep coming.

The biggest worry is the 14th century Charles Bridge, at the moment. A lot of people who've toured this city will know it. It is a pedestrian bridge that goes right over the river. They have a crane on top of that so it can catch any trees that may be rushing down the river. They want to catch those trees before they crash into the bridge. They have also detonated a barge nearby; they thought it might break loose and also cause a threat.

The latest count here in the Czech Republic is eight killed and two missing. That number keeps rising through the day.

We also know that President Vaclav Havel is going to rush back from Portugal. He was on vacation there. He is heading back to lead his effort to help the city and the country come tomorrow morning.

The problem is the rain may have stopped here in Prague, but the water keeps coming. They're bracing for worse in the eastern part of the country. That is where the rain is heading. So Moravia is about to get maybe three or four days of this flooding as well -- Carol. LIN: No end in sight.

Thank you very much, Jim Boulden, reporting from the Czech capital.

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