Flooding in Europe, The Danube River Reached its Highest Level in 500 Years

The Danube River reached its highest level in 500 years. The Elbe, Rhine, and other rivers and tributaries are cresting high as well as swathes of central Europe lie inundated by floodwaters that have killed 12 and displaced tens of thousands. Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic have been severely affected, as Hungary prepares for the swell of water. Gathered here are images of the flooding and people affected in the last several days. -- Lane Turner

The river Rhine floods Mainz, Germany on June 2, 2013 (picture taken with an underwater camera). (Fredrik Von Erichsen/AFP/Getty Images)

Several hundred helpers transport sandbags along the dam of the river Gera near Walschleben,Germany on June 1, 2013. (Jens Meyer/Associated Press) 

Rescue workers help local residents evacuate from their flooded houses in Grimma, Germany on June 3, 2013. (Jan Woitas/AFP/Getty Images) 

Firemen try to save a chicken near Schaerding, Austria on June 3, 2013. (Manfred Fesl/EPA) 

Two women are rescued from their home in Passau, Germany on June 3, 2013. The level of the river Danube rose past the historic record flood level of 1954 at 12.20 meters and is forecast to rise further. (Andreas Gebert/ EPA) 

People watch the waters of the river Rhine near Moehlin, Switzerland on June 1, 2013. (Walter Bieri/EPA) #

An emergency shelter is set up for flood victims in a gymnasium in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany on June 4, 2013. Around 10,000 people had to leave their houses because of flooding in Bitterfeld. (Jan Woitas/EPA) 

Floodwaters inundate a cellar in a home in Rosenheim, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Peter Kneffel/AFP/Getty Images) 

Kresice, Czech Republic lies submerged on June 4, 2013. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

A man carries a woman after flood waters overflowed the banks of the White Elster River in Gera, Germany on June 3, 2013. (Marc Tirl/EPA)

Flooding surrounds Melk, Austria on June 3, 1013. (Roland Schlager/EPA)

People walk along a flooded street in Kritzendorf, Austria on June 3, 2013. (Herbert P. Oczeret/EPA)

The tourist boat "Donau" (Danube) is seen on the flooded river Danube in the three-rivers city of Passau, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

Two men in a boat cross the flooded marketplace of Wehlen, Germany at the river Elbe on June 4, 2013. (Markus Schreiber/Associated Press)

A young man paddles his inflatable mattress through the flooded streets on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Lennart Preiss/Getty Images)

Floods surround the historic old town of Passau, Germany on June 3, 2013. (Karl-Josef Hildenbrand/EPA)

Officials pause near a flood protection wall in Krems, Austria on June 4, 2013. (Helmut Fohringer/EPA)

A pedestrian crosses a flooded street in St. Goarshausen, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Thomas Frey/EPA)

The cleanup is underway in the Arnhold household after flooding in Grimma,Germany on June 4, 2013. (Hendrik Schmidt)

Firefighter Robby Klaus drives a rescue boat on June 3, 2013 in Grimma, Germany. (Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)

A display dummy floats in the flooded center of Grimma, Germany on June 3, 2013. (Jens Schlueter/Getty Images)

A rescue worker ropes down a police helicopter on June 3, 2013 in Passau, Germany. (Lennart Preiss/Getty Images)

A man displaced from near the Vltava river listens to news in Prague's Holesovice district on June 3, 2013. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

German Bundeswehr soldiers patrol the flooded areas of the Bavarian town of Passau, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

A wine glass rests in the mud in the 'Theatercafe - Aquarium' in Passau, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Michaela Rehle/Reuters)

Firemen pump water from a submerged field near Melnik, Czech Republic on June 4, 2013. (Petr Josek/Reuters)

A worker inspects the heavily damaged road between Lofer and Waidring in the Austrian province of Tyrol on June 3, 2013. (Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Residents of flooded areas in Gera, Germany are evacuated on June 3, 2013. (Marc Tirl/AFP/Getty Images)

Animals at the Prague zoo watch their habitat flooded by the Vltava River on June 4, 2013 in Prague. (Samuel Kubani/AFP/Getty Images)

Snails cling to a walkway on June 4, 2013 in Putim, Czech Republic. (Radek Mica/AFP/Getty Images)

A dog looks out from a doorstep at a flooded street on June 4, 2013 in Pirna, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Exotic animal breeder Jiri Kozak transports his animals (snakes, turtles, peacocks, kangaroos, gerbils) to safety on June 4, 2013 in Putim, Czech Republic. (Radek Mica/AFP/Getty Images)

A cat tries to escape the river Vltava in Kly, Czech Republic on June 4, 2013. (Michal Cizek/AFP/Getty Images)

A women crosses a makeshift bridge in Unterloiben, Austria on June 4, 2013. (Dieter Nagl/AFP/Getty Images)

Residents and workers of the city of Greiz, Germany clean streets on June 4, 2013. (Marc Tirl/AFP/Getty Images)

Residential buildings stand submerged in the floodwaters of the river Danube in Straubing, Germany on June 5, 2013. (Armin Weigel/EPA)

An overturned street lamp holds water after flooding along the River Inn in Schaerding, Austria on June 5, 2013. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Vehicles are stranded on the flooded A3 motorway near Deggendorf, Germany on June 5, 2013 after one of Europe's most frequented highways was flooded by the nearby river Danube. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Residents pile sand bags to enforce a dam against the river Danube in Mecser, Hungary on June 5, 2013. Hungary is preparing to face its worst flooding in 50 years. (Ferenc Isza/AFP/Getty Images)

Damaged belongings lie outside houses following flooding in Kossen, Germany on June 4, 2013. (Pierre Teyssot/AFP/Getty Images)

A dead fish lies in a muddy street of Meissen, Germany on June 9, 2013. Thousands were evacuated from eastern Germany where the Elbe river burst through a dam. (Kay Nietfeld/dpa/Associated Press)

A firefighter checks a water pump in Decin, Czech Republic on June 5, 2013. (David W Cerny/Reuters)

A man inspects a sandbag wall near the river Elbe in Schoenebeck, Germany on June 9, 2013. (Tobias Schwarz/Reuters)

The waters of the Elbe river encroach on a swimming pool near Magdeburg, Germany on June 10, 2013. (Thomas Peter/Reuters)

A man walks in a flooded street in Meissen, Germany on June 9, 2013. (Kay Nietfeld/EPA)

A family canoe past the A3 Autobahn near the swollen Danube River on June 7, 2013 in Deggendorf, Germany. (Joerg Koch/Getty Images)

The cockpit of a brand new Jaguar F-Type convertible is covered with a film of mud after the floods of the Danube River subsided in Fischerdorf, Germany on June 9, 2013. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters)

A helper pulls out a destroyed BMW Isetta while the homeowner looks over the damages in his garage ruined by recent flooding from the nearby Danube River on June 10, 2013 in Deggendorf, Germany. (Joerg Koch/Getty Images)

Residents evacuated from flooded communities on the Elbe and Saale rivers shelter in Eggersdorf, Germany on June 8, 2013. (Jens Wolf/AFP/Getty Images)

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