Eastern Germany and other parts of central Europe are mobilising against floods as water levels in some rivers are dangerously high.

The town of Passau in Bavaria has already had a foretaste of what may lie ahead for the wider region. A state of emergency has been declared with the River Elbe threatening to rise to 7.5 metres - its highest level since the disastrous floods of 2002.

More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes as a precaution.

Heavy rains and melting snow have also caused flood alerts in neighbouring Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

About 10,000 people have been moved out of their homes along the river Dyje near the border between the Czech Republic and Austria.

Czech Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek cut short a trip to Egypt, returning home to attend a crisis cabinet meeting.

A total of 17 people were killed in the floods of 2002. Experts believe the situation will not be as bad this time but the alert across the region is expected to stay in place for several days.

PHOTO CAPTION

Residents use a boat in the flooded streets of the eastern German village of Rathen next to the river Elbe, about 60 kilometres east of Dresden March 30, 2006. (REUTERS)