Heavy rain between late May and early June 2013 caused the Danube, Elbe, Rhine and other rivers to flood in central Europe, placing parts of Germany, Austria, The Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia underwater. Firefighters and other emergency responders had to rely on boats to search for stranded residents. In Germany, a breach of a flood dam required the German Armed Forces to fly in sandbags to contain the breach near the village of Fischbeck. While the waters are starting to recede in some areas, floodwaters have left their mark, claiming at least 22 lives and forcing thousands to evacuate from their homes. Take a look at the flooding in photos.
Firefighters use a boat to search for residents after the river Elbe flooded the village of Kabelitz, north of Magdeburg
ReutersAn aerial view shows waters of Elbe river inundating pastures during floods near Magdeburg in the federal state of Saxony Anhalt
ReutersGarden with swimming pool is inundated by waters of Elbe river during floods near Magdeburg
ReutersA woman watches the flooding Danube River in Budapest
ReutersA thin film of mud covers a Fiat 500 after the floods of the nearby Danube river subsided at a car dealership in Fischerdorf
ReutersA Super Puma of the German Federal Police Bundespolizei carries sandbags to fix the broken dam built to contain the swollen Elbe river during floods near the village of Fischbeck
ReutersA helicopter of the German armed forces Bundeswehr drops sandbags next to a broken dam built to contain the swollen Elbe river during floods near the village of Fischbeck
ReutersBroken dam built to contain swollen Elbe river during floods is pictured infront of Fischbeck
ReutersA partially submerged billboard on a tramstop is seen on the flooded embankments of the Danube River in Budapest
Reuters
