Residents in some German regions were forced to leave their homes on Christmas Day.
Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic are facing high rainfall causing water levels to rise.
In particular, residents of several German regions were forced to leave their homes on Christmas Day.
The cause: heavy rains raised river levels and led to flooding, particularly in Thuringia and Lower Saxony.
Residents will have to wait several days before returning home, warned the governor of Thuringia.
“They will only be able to return there when the cellars have been pumped, when the electricity is restored and when the connection to the sewer network is restored,” warned Bodo Ramelow, governor of Thuringia.
In the Czech Republic, some areas are still on high alert while most of the country expects water levels to rise.
Precipitation, but also melting ice, are responsible for this phenomenon, according to local authorities.
In Prague, some ferries are stopped and the docks are closed to passers-by.
In the Netherlands, water levels are also particularly high due to heavy rains, especially in areas crossed by rivers.
Authorities and volunteers are keeping an eye on this unusual situation.
In some places, water levels are several meters higher than seasonal norms.