The Czech capital Prague was devastated by the worst floods in more than a century in August 2002 with large parts of the rest of the country cut off or inundated.

The Znojmo evacuations, prompted by rising water levels in the river Dyje, began Wednesday evening under the supervision of the emergency services.

Prague mayor Pavel Bem announced Tuesday that the city was about to put into operation for the first time flood defence barriers set in place after the catastrophic floods of August 2002.

Several of Prague's most famous landmarks, including the National Theatre and the famous concert hall, the Rudolfinum, both sited near the river embankment, were also taking steps Wednesday to stop floodwater seeping into their basements.

The previous day a five-year-old boy drowned in a overflowing brook in the village of Bonov in the same region.

The highest flood level alert, level three, WAS declared at 45 sites across the country on Wednesday following the steady rise of the rivers Elbe, Vltava, Morava and Dyje among others.

The move came amid a period of heavy rainfall and a swift rise in temperature following a very snowy winter.

An emergency meeting of the Czech government was arranged for Thursday with Prime Minister Jiri Paroubek cutting short a visit to Egypt to return to Prague.

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