BERLIN – Raging waters from three rivers have flooded large parts of the southeast German city of Passau following days of heavy rainfall in central Europe.
A spokesman for the city’s crisis centre said Monday that the situation was “extremely dramatic” and waters are expected to rise further by midday to their level highest in 70 years.
Herbert Zillinger told The Associated Press that much of the city was inaccessible except by boat and electricity supplies have been shut off as a precaution.
The city was one of the worst hit by flooding that has spread across a large area of central Europe following heavy rainfall in recent days.
Below are photos of the torrential rain and heavy flooding to hit central Europe.
The rivers Inn (back) and Danube flood the old city of Passau, southern Germany, on June 3, 2013. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Aerial view taken on June 3, 2013 shows the flooded landscape and the A 8 highway near Grabenstaett am Chiemsee, southern Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Helpers evacuate an old woman in the flooded center on June 3, 2013 in Grimma, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
A young man helps to evacuate citizens with his canoe in the historic city center on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
A firefighter carries sandbags in the historic city center on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Helpers fill sandbags in the historic city center on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Residents walk through the flooded streets the historic city center on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
A young man paddles on his inflatable mattress through the flooded streets in the historic city center on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
At least eight people were reported to have died and nine were missing due to floods in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
Authorities in the Czech Republic worked Monday to erect further protective metal barriers along the Vltava river, which also flows through the capital Prague.
In the photo below, a local resident walks across the bridge above the flooded Vltava river in the Zbraslav district on June 3, 2013 in Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
A view of the empty medieval Charles Bridge which was closed for public due to the rising water level of the Vltava river on June 3, 2013 in downtown Prague, Czech Republic. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
People fill sand bags near the Vltava river on June 03, 2013 in Prague. The Czech capital was flooded, with metro stations and elementary and secondary schools shut after the Vltava river rose, flooding parts of the historic city centre due to heavy rainfalls. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
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