Dresden Braces With Floodwaters At 3X Normal Height - Reuters

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DRESDEN, Germany - Rising waters in the main river through the German city of Dresden forced a first batch of evacuations on Friday while authorities said at least 1,000 more people might have to be evacuated over the weekend.

Around 100 residents of the Maillebahn retirement home in Dresden were moved out as melted snow and rain swelled the Elbe River's levels and caused flooding in parts of the city. With river levels more than three times their normal levels at seven metres (23 feet), 1,000 people living in low-lying areas close to the Elbe would probably have to leave their homes over the weekend, a city spokesman said.

"It looks inevitable," said the spokesman for the east German city of roughly 490,000 people.

Flooding experts say the historic city centre of Dresden will be safe as long as water levels stay below nine metres.

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