Persistent rain puts villages in south Bohemia on flood alert

Persistent rain over the past 48 hours has swollen rivers and streams in southern Bohemia putting half a dozen villages on flood alert. The town of Rychnov has reported the most serious problems so far, with a local stream flooding a number of houses and nearby fields. People living in the vicinity of swollen rivers have been piling sandbags along the banks for protection. Meteorologists say the region has seen the worst of the bad weather, with the belt of rain expected to move to the eastern parts of the country over the weekend.