Death toll rises to 10 in Europe flooding

WARSAW (AP):

The death toll in flooding in central Europe rose to 11 as Poland's interior minister said yesterday that two more people had died in the southwestern region of the country.

The flooding has struck an area near the borders of Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Heavy rains in Poland caused flooding in the southwestern town of Bogatynia and one person was already reported dead on Saturday.

In the northern Czech Republic, five people were found drowned over the weekend.

Another three people drowned in the eastern German state of Saxony on Saturday. Several roads and villages there were flooded by the swelling Neisse river and hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes in the city of Goerlitz by rescue workers in rubber boats.

No details given

Polish Interior Minister Jerzy Miller refused to give details about the three deaths in his country because he said he wasn't yet sure if their relatives had all been informed.

The worst-hit town in Poland was Bogatynia, where a bridge was destroyed and many were left without electricity and running water.

It is the third time this year that Poland has been affected by flooding. A first wave in May was the most severe. It caused widespread damage to homes and killed more than 20 people.

In the Czech Republic, at least a thousand people had to be evacuated Saturday, some from areas below two dams threatened by rising waters. People in the towns of Chrastava and Frydlant were rescued from the roofs of their home by police and military helicopterss.

Three summer camps for children were also evacuated.