August 25, 2005	Thursday	Rajab 19, 1426

BERNE, Aug 24: Rescue helicopters plucked stranded Swiss from roofs and balconies on Wednesday as rising water and strong currents prevented boats reaching homes in parts of Switzerland and more rain was forecast in coming days.

Lakes and rivers burst their banks after days of fierce downpours across Switzerland, Austria and Germany, cutting off roads, power and communications from hundreds of communities.

Mudslides blocked roads and railway tracks while some bridges were swept away by the force of floodwaters.

In Romania, 25 people died in floods in the past 10 days and hundreds of people were evacuated from their homes.

Part of the Swiss capital, Berne, was flooded and without power after the swollen Aare river burst its banks.

“We have had to carry out rescue activities since last night by helicopter because we just can’t get through (with boats) anymore. The current is just too strong,” police spokesman Thomas Jeuch said.

Some residents waved for help from balconies while others used their mobile phones to call rescuers in the capital, where police said water levels were rising.

In Lucerne, at the foot of some of Switzerland’s highest mountains, the water table was just centimetres below a historic high by midday, coming menacingly close to engulfing its famous 14th century wooden bridge.

Close to Lucerne, soldiers blasted waterways clear of debris and fallen trees.

Forecasters said the weather could get worse with a further 20-30 millimetres (around an inch) of rain expected overnight.

Seven people have died and thousands evacuated from their homes in Switzerland while in Austria the death toll rose to three on Wednesday and a fourth person was missing, feared drowned, police said.

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel called an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss relief efforts.—Reuters

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