Paddles are a necessity now in the submerged streets of a small town north of Prague.

Much of the Czech Republic stands underwater on Tuesday after days of heavy rain caused rivers to burst their banks and spill into the countryside.

The deluge has killed 12 people since the weekend in the Czech Republic, Austria, Poland and Germany. Thousands across central Europe have evacuated their homes to avoid the worst flooding in the region in a decade.

Forecasters predict the rain will soon taper and flooding will recede in the Czech Republic, but parts of Germany, Slovakia and Hungary will see waters edging even higher.