Many European countries are grappling with deadly flooding after heavy rainfall. However, Dresden in eastern Germany relaxed and prepared for rising waters after flooding catastrophes earlier this century.
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00:00This barrier protects the old city of Dresden from flooding.
00:04It's part of a wider concept to protect the city from the worst-case scenario.
00:16Not so in other European countries like Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Romania,
00:21where they suffered the most rainfall.
00:24The emergency services in these regions have been battling the floods for days.
00:28More than a dozen people were killed.
00:30Dresden experienced such extreme flooding in 2002 and 2013.
00:36In 2002, the old town was almost completely underwater.
00:40Many residents are reminded once again of these events.
00:58After the catastrophe in 2002, Dresden greatly improved its flood protection system
01:17and developed a protective barrier around the city.
01:20This defense system saved the city from severe flooding in 2013.
01:28The floodwaters came just a few days after the famous Corolla Bridge in the city collapsed.
01:48Clearing the rubble before the floods came was a race against time.
01:59This time, Dresden seems to have got off lightly
02:02and does not have to worry about the expected flood peak.