The death toll from the constant downpours rose in the region as the waters receded and showed the real extent of the destruction caused by exceptional rains during the last week.

In the northeastern Czech Republic, Interior Minister Vit Rakusan said the death toll rose to five, bringing the total in the region to 24; eight were missing as of his statement.

Authorities also reported seven dead in Poland, the same number in Romania and five in Austria.

Soldiers, firefighters and others were deployed throughout the affected area to assist neighbors with cleanup and recovery efforts.

Military helicopters are being used to distribute humanitarian aid, and troops are also building temporary bridges after many were destroyed in the floods. Some 400 people were still in evacuation centers in the capital of Poland’s Ostrava area, and were still unable to return home.

In the southwest of the country, near the Austrian border, the water level reached an extreme level in the Luznice River, but evacuations were not necessary for the time being.

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