Seven dead in Austrian floods as rivers continue to rise

The death toll in the worst floods Austria has seen in a century climbed to seven as water levels continued to rise in the east…

The death toll in the worst floods Austria has seen in a century climbed to seven as water levels continued to rise in the east of the country and in the capital Vienna.

In Vorarlberg, western Austria, two men were found dead in a car where they had drowned overnight, according to a spokesman for the Austrian Red Cross.

A 53-year-old lorry driver was killed when his truck overturned early this morning, in the northern province of Upper Austria, while a 61-year-old fireman drowned in his car overnight in the same region. His body was found early today, according to a fire brigade spokesman.

Water levels continued to climb under constant rainfall in eastern Austria, and the Danube river rose steadily in the capital.

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Numerous roads have been closed and more than 80 kilometres of railways are underwater, as well as being hit by landslides, causing damage worth up to 50 million euros.

Close to 8,000 soldiers joined fire fighters and voluntary workers to help out in areas hardest hit by flooding.

AFP