Soldiers and volunteers in southwestern Poland were laying sandbags Wednesday near swollen rivers in the region of Wroclaw as they worked to safeguard homes and businesses after days of flooding across Central Europe.

By Janis Laizans NYSA, Poland (Reuters) -Volunteers shored up defences to stem swollen rivers in the Polish city of Nysa on Tuesday, one of dozens of towns and cities across central Europe deluged by devastating floods that have killed at least 19 people.

Poland has declared a state of disaster in the area and set aside 1 billion zlotys ($260.38 million) for flood victims. Overnight, volunteers helped rescue workers heave sandbags to build up the broken embankment around Nysa,