Central Europe floods after a week of heavy rain
Thousands of people have been evacuated after central Europe sees the worst flooding in 70 years.
- Aerial view shows the flooded city of Meissen, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- Aerial view shows a boat with rescue personal making their way through the flooded city of Meissen, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- Trucks stand stranded on the flooded motorway A3 near the eastern Bavarian city of Deggendorf June 5, 2013, after one of Europe’s most frequented highways was flooded by the nearby river Danube on June 4. Chancellor Angela Merkel promised 100 million euros to victims of Germany’s worst flood in a decade on Tuesday as she toured areas devastated by the deluge, which has killed 12 people across central Europe. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A car leaves a small settlement surrounded by the floods of the river Danube near the eastern Bavarian city of Deggendorf June 5, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel promised 100 million euros to victims of Germany’s worst flood in a decade on Tuesday as she toured areas devastated by the deluge, which has killed 12 people across central Europe. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- Houses are flooded by the river Danube (front) and Inn (back) in Passau, southern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged 100 million euros in emergency aid for flood-ravaged areas as surging waters that have claimed at least 11 lives and forced tens of thousands of evacuations across central Europe bore down on eastern Germany. (Christof Stache/Getty Images)
- A resident mows the lawn in village of Stein-Krems next to the flooded river Danube in Lower Austria, about 80 km (50 miles) west of Vienna June 5, 2013. Torrential rain in Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the past days, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)
- Rescue workers ride a boat in the flooded streets of the east German town of Bad Schandau after the Elbe river has broken its banks, June 5, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
- A resident cleans mud from the footpath in front of her house following flooding along the river Inn in the Austria-German border town of Schaerding June 5, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel promised 100 million euros to victims of Germany’s worst flood in a decade on Tuesday as she toured areas devastated by the deluge, which has killed 12 people across central Europe. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- The highway crossing of the A92 (L) and the A3 (top) is flooded near the eastern Bavarian city of Deggendorf June 5, 2013, after one of Europe’s most frequented highways was flooded by the nearby river Danube on June 4. Chancellor Angela Merkel promised 100 million euros to victims of Germany’s worst flood in a decade on Tuesday as she toured areas devastated by the deluge, which has killed 12 people across central Europe. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A small settlement along the A3 motorway is flooded near the eastern Bavarian city of Deggendorf June 5, 2013, after one of Europe’s most frequented highways was flooded by the nearby river Danube on June 4. Chancellor Angela Merkel promised 100 million euros to victims of Germany’s worst flood in a decade on Tuesday as she toured areas devastated by the deluge, which has killed 12 people across central Europe. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- Aerial view shows a boat with rescue personal making their way through the flooded city of Meissen, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- Aerial view shows a flooded container storage facility in Riesa, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- Aerial view shows a flooded container storage facility in Riesa, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- A photographer take pictures of a plastic tiger below submerged in flood water on June 05, 2013 in Hrensko, northern Bohemia. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
- Open boot doors of submerged cars rise out of the floods in Deggendorf, southern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged 100 million euros in emergency aid for flood-ravaged areas as surging waters that have claimed at least 11 lives and forced tens of thousands of evacuations across central Europe bore down on eastern Germany. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Getty Images)
- Members of the German Life Saving Association DLRG, patrol onboard a boat through the flooded streets in Deggendorf, Bavaria, 5 June 2013, after the Danube river broke its banks. Cities in Germany and the Czech Republic were scrambling to stave off potential disaster as a flood wave headed north, sending thousands of people fleeing their homes. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Getty Images)
- A man saves goods from a flooded shop on June 05, 2013 in Hrensko, northern Bohemia. German, Czech and Austrian river cities braced for rising flood waters, evacuating thousands and boosting defences along the swollen Elbe and Danube, after inundations from heavy rains left 11 people dead. (Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
- People are seen at the flood walls on June 5, 2013 in Krems an der Donau. Water levels of the flooded Danube reached their highest point in the Austrian capital where the port and riverside restaurants had already succumbed to the deluge. (Dieter Nagl/Getty Images)
- Residents push a car out of a garage flooded by the river Elbe in Dresden, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged 100 million euros in emergency aid for flood-ravaged areas as surging waters that have claimed at least 11 lives and forced tens of thousands of evacuations across central Europe bore down on eastern Germany. (Robert Michael/Getty Images)
- Residents transport sand bags to build a flood protection in a street flooded by the river Elbe in Dresden, eastern Germany, on June 5, 2013. Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged 100 million euros in emergency aid for flood-ravaged areas as surging waters that have claimed at least 11 lives and forced tens of thousands of evacuations across central Europe bore down on eastern Germany. (Robert Michael/Getty Images)
- Aerial view shows flooding in Deggendorf, southern Germany on June 5, 2013. Cities in Germany and the Czech Republic were scrambling to stave off potential disaster as a flood wave headed north, sending thousands of people fleeing their homes. (Armin Weigel/Getty Images)
- A dog looks out from a doorstep at a flooded street in the historic city center on June 4, 2013 in Pirna, Germany. Heavy rains have pounded southern and eastern Germany, causing wide-spread flooding and ruining crops. In eastern Germany floodwaters are moving north through the Mulde, Saale and Elbe rivers, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of residents. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- An aerial view shows the submerged castle of Libechov near the town of Melnik, June 4, 2013. The worst floods to hit the Czech Republic in a decade forced the evacuation of almost 2,700 people from low-lying areas while the rising water threatened Prague’s historic centre, forced school closures and disrupted public transport. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
- An aerial view shows the submerged church of the village of Pocaply near the town of Litomerice, June 4, 2013. The worst floods to hit the Czech Republic in a decade forced the evacuation of almost 2,700 people from low-lying areas while the rising water threatened Prague’s historic centre, forced school closures and disrupted public transport. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
- The tourist boat “Donau” (Danube) is seen on the flooded river Danube in the three-rivers city of Passau in south-eastern Bavaria June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- The tourist boat “Sissi” is seen on the flooded river Danube in the three-rivers city of Passau in south-eastern Bavaria June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A woman rides a horse through the flooded street of the village of Kresice near the city of Litomerice, June 4, 2013. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
- A local resident stands in a street flooded from the nearby Elbe river in the historic city center to take a photograph on June 4, 2013 in Pirna, Germany. Heavy rains have pounded southern and eastern Germany, causing wide-spread flooding and ruining crops. In eastern Germany floodwaters are moving north through the Mulde, Saale and Elbe rivers, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of residents. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
- Inhabitants and others work in the city center of Grimma after the flood waters have subsided on June 4, 2013 Grimma, Germany. Heavy rains have pounded southern and eastern Germany, causing wide-spread flooding and ruining crops. In eastern Germany floodwaters are moving north through the Mulde, Saale and Elbe rivers, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of residents. (PJens Schlueter/Getty Images)
- Rubber boots filled with flowers stand in front of the entrance of a house protected with sand bags against the floods of the river Elbe on June 4, 2013 in Meissen, eastern Germany. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Martin Foerster/Getty Images)
- Helpers clean a flooded bar in the inner city of Passau in Germany, on June 4, 2013. Flooding situation in Bavaria is serious. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/Getty Images)
- Animals are seen at the Prague ZOO flooded by Vltava river on June 4, 2013 in Prague. After another night of downpours in the capital and elsewhere in the Czech Republic the water in Vltava was still on the rise and expected to reach critical levels later in the day. (Samuel Kubani/Getty Images)
- The flood waters in the Danube surround the Weltenburg Abbey in Weltenberg, Germany, on June 4, 2013. Heavy rains are causing serious floods in Bavaria and other areas in Germany. (Daniel Karmann/Getty Images)
- The flood waters along the Elbe River have reached Pillnitz Castle in Dresden, Germany, on June 4, 2013. Heavy rains over the past days are causing serious flooding in Saxony and other areas in Germany. (Arno Burgi/Getty Images)
- The flooded Kly village by Vltava river, is seen near Melnik, centeral Bohemia. After another night of downpours in the capital and elsewhere in the Czech Republic the water in Vltava was still on the rise and expected to reach critical levels later in the day. (Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
- A firefighter in a boat delivers a canister with gasoline to a man in a flooded house in Unterloiben on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Dieter Nagl/Getty Images)
- Firefighters are pictured in a boat in Unterloiben, Austria, on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Dieter Nagl/Getty Images)
- Residents observe their flooded village of Kresice near the city of Litomerice, June 4, 2013. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
- A fireman passes a spike to his colleague over a barrier holding back the flood water of the swollen Danube river in Klosterneuburg, the neighboring city north of Vienna, June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)
- A damaged street is pictured in the western Austrian village of Erpfendorf June 4, 2013. Torrential rain caused widespread flooding and landslides across Austria on Sunday, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate their homes. (Dominic Ebenbichler/Reuters)
- A car stands in the flood water of the swollen Danube river in Klosterneuburg, the neighboring city north of Vienna, June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Heinz-Peter Bader/Reuters)
- Members of the emergency services drive next to a barrier to protect from flooded river Danube in the village of Stein-Krems in Lower Austria, about 80 km (50 miles) west of Vienna June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the past days, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)
- A rescue team on a dinghy evacuates a man from the flooded district of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A general view shows the flooded market square of the town of Wehlen in the federal state of Saxony after the Elbe river broke its banks, June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
- An aerial view shows the flooded city centre of Grimma, eastern Germany, on June 3, 2013. Parts of the eastern and southern Germany were flooded due to heavy and ongoing rainfall. (Jens Wolf/Getty Images)
- People canoe in the flooded city of Wehlen, in eastern Germany, on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- Floodwater of the river Mulde encloses some houses north of Eilenburg, eastern Germany, on June 3, 2013. Parts of the eastern and southern Germany were flooded due to heavy and ongoing rainfalls. (Jens Wolf/Getty Images)
- People watch the rising Lech river on June 2, 2013 in Landsberg am Lech, Germany. Heavy rains across portions of Germany are causing flooding and ruining crops. (Johannes Simon/Getty Images)
- An aerial image shows the three-rivers city of Passau in south-eastern Bavaria June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend of the rivers Inn (L), Danube (2R) and Ilz (front R), forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- An aerial image shows the three-rivers city of Passau in south-eastern Bavaria June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend of the rivers Inn (L), Danube (2R) and Ilz (front R), forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A flooded cellar is pictured in a home in Rosenheim, Germany, on June 4, 2013. Heavy rains are causing serious floods in Bavaria and other areas in Germany. (Peter Kneffel/Getty Images)
- A cat tries to escape from water by the river Vltava in Kly, near Melnik, Czech Republic, on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
- Two men paddle across a flooded market square after the Elbe river broke its banks during a flood in the east German town of Wehlen in the federal state of Saxony June 4, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)
- A rescue team on a dinghy evacuates a man from the flooded district of the Bavarian town of Passau, about 200 km (124 miles) north-east of Munich June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in the south and south-east of Germany caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)
- A man in a boat floats along a submerged street in the flood water of the swollen Danube river in Klosterneuburg, the neighbouring city north of Vienna, June 4, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Heinz-Peter Bade/Reuters)
- Firemen pump water out from a submerged field near the city of Melnik, June 4, 2013. The worst floods to hit the Czech Republic in a decade forced the evacuation of almost 2,700 people from low-lying areas while the rising water threatened Prague’s historic centre, forced school closures and disrupted public transport. (Petr Josek/Reuters)
- Members of the emergency services travel by boat along a flooded street in the centre of the Austrian village of Emmersdorf, about 100 km (62 miles) west of Vienna June 3, 2013. Torrential rain in Tyrol, Salzburg, Upper and Lower Austria caused heavy flooding over the weekend, forcing people to evacuate their homes. (Leonhard Foeger/Reuters)
- A women crosses a makeshift bridge over overflooded streets in Unterloiben, Austria on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Dieter Nagl/Getty Images)
- A boy stands in the flooded city of Wehlen, in eastern Germany, on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- A house is flooded by the river Vltava in Kly, near Melnik, Czech Republic, on June 4, 2013. Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Michal Cizek/Getty Images)
- Photographers and cameramen stand in a street submerging in the floods of the river Elbe in Pirna, eastern Germany, to take pictures of the German Chancellor during her visit on June 4, 2013. German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged 100 million euros ($130 million) in emergency aid for flood-ravaged areas, as surging waters that have already claimed 10 lives and forced tens of thousands of evacuations across Europe bore down towards Germany. (Johannes Eisele/Getty Images)
- A resident stands at his property on a flooded street in the town of Grimma, near Leipzig June 2, 2013. Authorities in the German state of Saxon have declared Grimma a disaster area, according to local media. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)
- A traffic light and a sign stand on a flooded street in Dresden, eastern Germany, on June 4, 2013.Torrential rain and heavy flooding hit central Europe. (Arno Burgi/Getty Images)
- An aerial view of the overflooded Germany city of Passau on June 3, 2013. (Peter Kneffel/Getty Images)
- Firefighters and helpers evacuate inhabitants in the flooded city center on June 3, 2013 in Grimma, Germany. Heavy rains are pounding southern and eastern Germany, causing wide-spread flooding and ruining crops. At least two people are missing and feared dead in what is evolving into the most serious flood levels since the so-called 100-year flood of 2002. Portions of Austria and the Czech Republic are also inundated. (Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)
- Residents of flooded areas in Gera, eastern Germany are evacuated on June 3, 2013. Parts of the eastern and southern Germany were flooded due to heavy and ongoing rainfalls.(Marc Tirl/Getty Images)
- Rescue workers pass on a boat the overflooded old city of Passau, southern Germany, on June 3, 2013. Due to heavy and ongoing rainfalls, parts of the southern state of Bavaria were flooded. (Christof Stache/Getty Images)
- A paddle streamer of the Compagnie Generale de Navigation sur le lac Leman, commonly abbreviated to CGN, cruises on June 3, 2013 past a pullman bus during a rescue operation after it sank in Lake Geneva off the coast of Vevey, western Switzerland. The empty bus parked at the market square in Vevey rolled on its own and ended up in Lake Geneva. No one was injuried. (Fabrice Coffrini/Getty Images)
- The statue of world harmony leader Sri Chinmoy is partially submerged in water from the rising Vltava river in Prague June 2, 2013. Rivers across the Czech Republic are rising fast due to heavy rain. (David W Cerny/Reuters)