Flood waters in the German city of Passau reached a record high of 12.2 metres on Monday (June 03), as the confluence of the Danube and two other rivers were flooded.

German media reports said water levels had not been this high since the 16th century.

Flood waters submerged nearly all of the first floor of the city's buildings. Residents piled up sandbags along streets as the waters inched higher.

Emergency workers helped rescue stranded residents, transporting them by small motorboat.

Many homes in the city on the Austrian border could only be reached by boat and local authorities have declared a state of emergency for the region.

Other areas in the southern German state of Bavaria are also hit by flooding, which has also overwhelmed parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Poland.