Authorities in the German city of Dresden have warned residents to expect a sustained flood period after the worst torrents to hit the region in a decade.<br/> <br />Water levels remained critical on Thursday as large parts of the historic city were inundated following days of flooding.<br/> <br />But the situation had improved in other parts of the region affected by flood waters.<br/> <br />The eastern city of Halle seems to have passed the worst, with local authorities saying that the water was slowly receding.<br/> <br />The state of emergency will remain in place but residents seemed optimistic.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (German) RESIDENT OF HALLE'S NEUSTADT DISTRICT, FRIEDRICH ALLERT, SAYING:<br/> <br />"The worst seems to be over. They put up a second dam in front of the first one yesterday and now we are very hopeful."<br/> <br />In the Czech Republic too, life is slowly beginning to return to normal.<br/> <br />The Prague public zoo has reopened after closing due to rising water levels for the first time since 2002.
