Pictures: Worst Floods in European History?

River Rush

Photograph by Wolfgang Rattay, Reuters    

The town of Passau, Germany, is known as the "City of Three Rivers" because it's where the Inn, Danube, and Ilz rivers meet. The historic Bavarian city is now partially underwater, hit by the worst flooding in more than 500 years. As the water levels rose on Monday, thousands were forced to evacuate their homes via boats.

Published June 6, 2013

Flooding the Hall

Photograph by Jens Wolf, European Pressphoto Agency    

Following days of heavy rainfall in central Europe, the town hall in Grimma, Germany, was turned into a virtual island as water from the River Mulde flooded the town center.

Published June 6, 2013

Weathering the Storm

Photograph by Thomas Peter, Reuters    

On Leipziger Street in Dresden, Germany, volunteers pile sandbags at the edge of the Elbe River. According to the Associated Press, some 300 volunteers were working in Dresden to fend off Wednesday's rising waters.

Published June 6, 2013

Rainy Day at the Zoo

Photograph by Katerina Sulova, CTK/Zuma Press    

A Humboldt penguin at the Prague Zoo gets an interesting view from his tank as waters from the Vltava River continue to rise. Officials have estimated that the zoo has now sustained more than 160 million koruna ($8.1 million) in damages, according to CNN.

Published June 6, 2013

Crumbling Conditions

Photograph by Kerstin Joensson, AP    

In Austria, roads were severely damaged after heavy rainfall caused flooding along rivers and lakes. The Austrian meteorological service reported that two months' worth of rain fell in the country in the last two days, according to the BBC, significantly straining the local infrastructure.

Published June 6, 2013

Rescue Team

Photograph by Karl-Josef Hildenbrand, AFP/Getty Images    

In Deggendorf, Bavaria, members of the German Life-Saving Association (DLRG) survey the flooded landscape after the Danube river broke its banks. On Wednesday, the river is expected to rise even further, worrying local government officials.

Published June 6, 2013

Uncontained Waters

Photograph by Thomas Peter, Reuters    

Some stacked shipping containers in Saxony, Germany, remain dry while others become partially submerged as waters from the Elbe River continue to rise. According to the BBC, officials in this German state have warned that the current flooding may exceed record levels from 2002.

Published June 6, 2013

Climbing to Safety

Photograph by Radek Mica, AFP/Getty Images    

Snails inch their way out of rising floodwaters and onto a railing in Putim, Czech Republic, where waters were rising at 15 centimeters (5.9 inches) per hour, according to the BBC.

Published June 6, 2013

Taking a Break

Photograph by Thomas Peter, Reuters    

Volunteers in Dresden, Germany, lounge on a wall of sandbags built to hold back damaging floodwaters.

Published June 6, 2013

See Next: Venice Flood Makes A Swimming Pool of St. Marks

Photograph by Luigi Costantini, Associated Press

Published June 6, 2013