Rescue teams are searching for two people who were swept off a bridge by sudden floods in Bavaria.

German authorities said eight other people were rescued from the floods and were not injured.

Heavy, sudden rains on Monday afternoon had turned a creek in the Valley of Hell near the town of Grainau into floods which tore down a wooden bridge, sweeping two people down into the water, German news agency dpa reported.

The other people were caught by the water or cut off from their paths by the floods elsewhere in the steep valley.

More than 160 helpers and helicopters were involved in the rescue missions.

It was not clear who the two missing people were, dpa said.

The Hollentalklamm, or Valley of Hell, is a popular destination for hikers from across the country and abroad.

In Austria, four people were injured in severe weather and firefighters were called out hundreds of times, local media reported.

Last month, more than 200 people died in deadly floods in western Germany

Climate scientists say there is little doubt that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas is driving more extreme weather events – such as heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, floods and storms – as the planet warms.