Two men reported missing in southern Romania following floods in Eastern Europe were found dead Thursday, taking the regional toll to five, official sources said.

The two bodies were found miles downstream from the area where they were swept away by floodwaters as high as two metres (six and a half feet), in Valcea county, the emergency inspectorate told AFP.

A further two men are still missing in Romania, where a first death was reported Wednesday.

Neighbouring Bulgaria also reported two deaths Wednesday after heavy flooding hit the central Gabrovo region.

More rain was expected Thursday in northern Bulgaria and the capital Sofia.

Torrential rains and mounting waters still threatened two counties in south-western Romania, but elsewhere in the country the situation was gradually going back to normal.

The Romanian Orthodox Church asked priests to pray for rain to stop and to collect food and blankets for the people left homeless.

The government was expected to release emergency funds to reinforce flood defences and repair damaged property.