One dead as 'unprecedented' flooding hits Germany

A firefighter has died while trying to rescue residents trapped by "unprecedented" major flooding in southern Germany, following heavy rain which is expected to continue through today.

The man, 42, was in a rescue boat carrying four firefighters that capsized late yesterday.

His body was recovered early this morning, said a spokesperson for the Bavarian town of Pfaffenbachan der Ilm, around 50km north of Munich.

While municipalities had days to prepare for the flooding, rescue workers still had to evacuate hundreds of people as the water cut off some areas, authorities said.