Central Europe has been inundated during the past several weeks with heavy and relentless rain, which has resulted in some of the worst floods seen in the area in more than 70 years. The floods have reached record levels, particularly in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic. Switzerland, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland are also affected. The heavy rains are resulting in landslides in many mountainous areas, while in the floodplains, which were already saturated due to rains in previous weeks, river levels rose to record heights.

According to AIR Worldwide data, Germany is the hardest hit country, with some flood levels reaching the highest in recorded history. Water levels in Passau, which is located at the intersection of the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers, are at the highest on record since 1501. Electricity has been shut off and rescuers are using boats to evacuate residents. The river gauges along the Danube have been knocked out. Other cities in south and southeastern Germany are preparing for the worst as the Danube and Inn rivers continue to rise. Dangerous flood levels in Germany have also affected Saxony, Thuringia, and Baden-Württemberg. Severe water levels are reported in the cities of Rosenheim, Dresden, Zwickau, and other areas.

In Austria, rising waters in the Danube are threating the cities of Linz and Melk and floods have already reached some historic city centers. Flood alerts are in effect in the western provinces of Vorarlberg, Tyrol and Salzburg, as well as northern parts of Upper Austria. Flooding in Tyrol and Styria is considered the worst in the area since 2002.

Flood warnings in the Czech Republic are in effect for 40 cities, including Prague where the Vltava River is reaching critical levels while the Moldau River is threatening the city’s historic center. A state of emergency has been declared in Prague and other areas including South and Central Bohemia, Plzeň, Liberec, Hradec Králové and Ústí. The Upa and Berounka rivers are also threatening several locations.

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