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Meanwhile, one of the three largest Czech banks, Ceska sporitelna, said it would donate 50 million crowns to the flood-affected areas to help repair the damage. The bank will also offer soft loans to regions, municipalities, companies, and individuals.

One of the most powerful images of the floods over the last few days has been the sight of the medieval bridge in the town of Pisek entirely under water, with nothing but the Baroque statues on the parapet visible above the rushing river. Scenes of the ancient Lesser Town of Prague have been just as dramatic, and not surprisingly there are fears that permanent damage could have been caused to some of the country's most important historic monuments. David Vaughan reports.

The sweeping floods that hit the Czech Republic have caused enormous damage. According to estimates, the damage is likely to be higher than that caused by the disastrous floods which hit the Eastern part of the Czech republic five years ago. Insurance companies say the current catastrophe will certainly be among the biggest in the Czech modern history.

Offers for financial help have started coming from abroad. Several European countries offered help individually. Besides that, the European Commissioner for enlargement..

The floods have affected many areas of the Czech Republic. In southern and western Bohemia water levels are gradually falling, but other regions are bracing themselves for further floods. In the South Moravian town of Znojmo 5,000 residents have been evacuated as a flood wave approaches the town. Some of the most serious flooding is currently in Central Bohemia. The town centre of Kralupy nad Vltavou, a few kilometres north of Prague, is underwater and 3,000 people have been forced to leave their homes. Floods are expected in the northern town of Usti nad Labem but reports say residents are ignoring police appeals for them to move to temporary shelters.

President Vaclav Havel cut short his holiday in Portugal on Wednesday, and returned to Prague for talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Spidla. Earlier Mr Spidla appeared on television, appealing for people to remain calm, co-operate with the authorities and not hamper rescue efforts. In a statement broadcast by national television Mr Spidla thanked the Czech people for facing a grave situation with "great courage and great vigour". Mr Havel was later seen on television walking across Charles Bridge.

A state of emergency is still in force in the Czech Republic where the capital Prague and many other parts of the country have been hit by the worst floods in more than a century. Over 200,000 people have been evacuated from their homes, 70,000 in Prague alone. Floodwaters and debris have smashed railway bridges, knocked out water treatment plants and closed roads throughout the country. At least ten people have died and two are missing. Damage has been estimated at hundreds of millions of crowns