Regensburg Flooding 2013

Following days of heavy rain, rivers all over Germany rose to record breaking levels and cities were flooded. These pictures are from the 2013 flooding of the Danube River in Regensburg, Germany and were taken on June 3rd.

To the right of these trees there used to be a path we walked on quite frequently.The orange thing in the water is height marker. We recorded where we took this picture so we can return in a few days/weeks and compare the water levels.

This street and alley were closed due to flooding. The stone bridge is on the left, and normally appears much taller.

This is a flood gate, quite literally holding the waters back. The sign says high water.

Fun fact: the gate was leaking. This was the most nerve-wracking photo I took that day. I was worried that the gate would suddenly break and I'd be swept out into the raging waters of the Danube.

This is the view of the flood gate from the bridge; from the river side. We later witnessed two idiot boys climb on that small roof to the left. We ultimately left the bridge because we didn't want to be there if/when they fell in, because let's face it, there would be nothing we could do.

Zoomed out picture of the buildings on the river side, and the flood gate.

This is what the city and water levels look like when they aren't flooded. This picture is from November 2011.

The stone bridge barely has room for water to pass below it, and supposedly the waters rose even higher that night.

The stone bridge from October 2012. Near the island you can walk on one of the abutments. Now it's all underwater.

This is across the river from old town Regensburg. It's normally an island in the middle of the Danube, and we've walked on it in the past. Now each building is it's own island.

The island below the flood waters on a passive day, also from November 2011.

We can only assume that spray is from a fire hose pumping water out from behind flood gates.

On the right hand side of the photo are some large cruise ships or barges. Normally they are able to pass under that metal bridge from the previous photo (and just discernible in the background here). Due to the high water, the large ships have become stranded as they can no longer fit under the bridge.

The area to the right is normally crowded with people enjoying sausages from the Wurstkuche or historic sausage kitchen. Near the trees are metal flood fences holding back the water.

Unfortunately, the first row of flood fences in front of the Wurstkuche were unable to stem the tide. This photo was taken from behind a second set of flood fences, and the people living in the buildings behind them were already sandbagging, preparing for these fences to break.

This is the area in front of the sausage kitchen that is now underwater.

UPDATE!!!!!!
The sausage kitchen is once again open for business, and has repaired the damage to the walls. They even have prepared a section of wall for a new high water lines. 2013 will join the ranks of flood from the last few centuries.