1.   Denied its usual egress, the river had burst its banks and was pouring down the fire-ravaged streets.

2.   Dozens are missing - swept away after torrential rains caused rivers to burst their banks.

3.   Residents were evacuated from the town as the waters rose and the Ouse threatened to burst its banks.

4.   There were torrential rains, rivers burst their banks and flooded standing crops, churches were struck by lightning in heavy thunderstorms.

5.   The river burst its banks, and hundreds of Londoners were flooded out after the worst rain for twenty years.

6.   Monsoons caused the river to burst its banks.

7.   The river burst its banks, submerging an entire village.

8.   Homes and shops were flooded and farm animals marooned as rivers burst their banks.