Soldiers and residents in southwestern Poland are laying sandbags near swollen rivers around the city of Wroclaw to protect homes and businesses after days of flooding across Central Europe.

Residents of several areas of Poland and the Czech Republic rushed to evacuate on Monday as others in central Europe began cleaning up after the worst flooding in over two decades left a trail of destruction and a rising number of deaths.

The death toll from the severe flooding in Central Europe has risen to at least 23, according to the latest tally after another victim was confirmed. In the Czech Republic, a fifth death was announced by Interior Minister Vit Rakušan on Thursday.