Thousands flee new flood surges

Thousands more people across central Germany have been forced to flee their homes as the swollen River Elbe continues to send flood waters through many towns and villages as it races towards the North Sea.

The death toll from the most devastating floods to hit central and eastern Europe for more than 150 years has risen to at least 110 with the number of victims in Germany standing at 18. Dozens of people are still reported missing.

Overstretched authorities are today preparing for more destruction, as the floods, which have already caused £20 billion devastation in Prague and Dresden, continue to build up momentum.

One of the most powerful surges of water is expected at the city of Magdeburg.

There were also more fears today of dangerous chemicals and toxins escaping into the public water supply and onto agricultural land.

Although the threat of major leaks at the massive Bitterfeld chemical complex in Saxony-Anhalt appears to have been averted, German Environment Minister Juergen Trittin is to visit a chemical plant in the neighbouring Czech Republic damaged by the floods.

There is concern that ioxins, mercury and other toxic chemicals may have entered the Elbe and are heading over the border.

The Czech authorities say there is no risk of an environmental catastrophe at the Spolana plant but admit that the situation is serious.

A cloud of deadly chlorine gas was released when the plant was swamped by the floods last week but it is believed to have been too small to have posed a threat.

The floods have wiped out or severely damaged scores of roads, rail lines, bridges, stores and private homes in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Authorities in Prague inspected more buildings damaged by flooding from the Vltava River after three collapsed in recent days.

Of 158 houses checked by experts in the low-lying Karlin neighborhood, 58 were damaged, city hall spokesman Martin Kupka said. Some 28 houses and apartment buildings could end up being torn down.

With dry weather predicted in Germany and central Europe for the next few days, and only scattered showers over western Hungary, hopes were rising that the great mopping-up and rebuilding operation could begin soon.

? Floods are today threatening vast swathes of land in China. Torrential rain has filled one of the world's largest lakes to bursting point, placing 10 million people and millions of acres of farmland in danger.

The last time the giant Dongting lake flooded - in 1998 - more than 4,000 people died. That was the worst flooding for decades.

But officials warn that with the freshwater lake already more than 2 feet over the the flood warning level and no sign of any let-up in the deluge, it could be even more catastrophic this time. The Dongting lake serves as an overflow for the floodprone Yangtse River.

More than 1.6 million acres of China's most fertile farmland is threatened, according to the state newspaper the China Daily.

Local authorities had mobilised thousands of people to man the embankments as water levels were expected to reach 109 ft later today, it was reported.

China's summer flood season began early this year and has already claimed more than 900 lives.