Floods in the northeast of the Czech Republic have claimed the lives of at least nine people after rivers in the Novy Jicin area burst their banks.

Hundreds of people have now been evacuated from their homes, while several villages in the area have been closed off from the outside world. Dozens of houses have been destroyed.

The flooding was caused by recent heavy rainfalls, which are expected to continue this week. Rescue workers believe they may discover more bodies when the floodwaters recede.

The Slovak Republic and Poland have also been hard hit by the floods. In Poland many streets and cellars are under water and traffic has been severely disrupted because several roads and railways are impassable.

Photo of Novy Jicin by Cayman (flickr)