Torrential rain has caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. At least one person died and two were missing in the deluge, which in some places dumped up to two months' worth of rain in just days.

One clean-up worker was killed in a mudslide in the town of St Johann near Salzburg, the Austrian Press Agency reported, while two other people were missing in the province after being swept into raging streams.

The provinces of Upper Austria, Tyrol and Styria were also hit hard by the severe weather, which triggered the worst flooding in some areas since 2002.

A flood alarm for the northern side of the Alps was in effect until this morning, national broadcaster ORF said. 

The deluge also prompted officials in Prague to close the subway system.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Necas declared a state of emergency for most of the nation as swollen rivers caused by days of heavy rain threatened Prague's historic centre and forced evacuations from low-lying areas.

Water from the Vltava River overflowed into picturesque areas popular with tourists. The main train line connecting the capital and the east of the country was also shut. 

The floods have killed at least two people and several people are missing across the Czech Republic. A Prague hospital and parts of the zoo were also evacuated.

Rising rivers have forced the closures of highways and railway lines throughout western and southern Bohemia. Utility companies reported outages throughout the region after floods damaged a number of substations.

"The water is about 50 metres from my house but it's only 1 or 2 metres from other houses," said Rory Pattison, an expatriate worker living in a village just outside Prague.

"We haven't had an evacuation notice yet but everyone is making preparations just in case."

The situation brought back memories of floods in 2002 that killed 17 people, forced tens of thousands from their homes and caused several billion dollars of damage across the country.

Water levels have not reached that point yet but weather forecasters predict the rain will continue for at least another few days, raising the prospect that rivers have not yet peaked.

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