Experts say the most severe floods to hit Central Europe in at least two decades fit into a broader pattern of extreme weather events.

The worst floods to hit central Europe in at least two decades have left a trail of destruction from Romania to Poland, spreading mud and debris in towns, destroying bridges, submerging cars and leaving authorities and householders with a bill for damages that will run into billions of dollars.

Heavy rains also caused flooding and evacuation of some 1,000 residents in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The death toll was rising in Central Europe, as receding waters were revealing the huge scale of the destruction caused by exceptionally heavy rains that began a week ago,

By Kuba Stezycki, Janis Laizans and Radovan Stoklasa WROCLAW, Poland/OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (Reuters) -Residents and emergency workers raced to secure river banks in the historic Polish city of Wroclaw on Tuesday,

The death toll from the severe flooding in Central Europe has risen to at least 23, according to the latest tally after another victim was confirmed. In the Czech Republic, a fifth death was announced by Interior Minister Vit Rakušan on Thursday.