Europe floods: Enormous scale of destruction is revealed as water subsides

Soldiers of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, search for flood victims in submerged vehicles on the highway in Erftstadt, western Germany, on July 17.

Water flows over a square in front of a house in Bischofswiesen, Germany, Saturday, July 17.

A resident of Arcen, Netherlands, looks at the rising water of the river Maas.

A man stands in front of a destroyed house after floods caused major damage in Schuld near Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, western Germany, on July 17.

A water level gauge in Arcen, Netherlands, shows rising waters on July 17. Dutch officials ordered the evacuation of 10,000 people in the municipality of Venlo, as the Maas river was rising there faster than expected.

This aerial photo shows flooding in Erftstadt, Germany, on July 16.

A man brushes water and mud out of his flooded house in Ensival, Belgium, on July 16.

People collect debris in the pedestrian area of Bad Muenstereifel, western Germany.

The Steinbach dam near Euskirchen in North Rhine-Westphalia is seen after flooding.

Firefighters walk past a car that was damaged by flooding in Schuld, Germany.

People lay sandbags in Roermond, Netherlands, on July 16.

A woman sorts through clothing at a shelter in Liege, Belgium, on Friday.

A woman walks up the stairs of her damaged house in Ensival, Belgium.

A man walks through a flooded part of Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany, on Thursday.

A regional train sits in floodwaters at the local station in Kordel, Germany.

People use rafts to evacuate after the Meuse River broke its banks during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium.

People look at a railway crossing that was destroyed by the flooding in Priorei, Germany.

Men walk by damaged homes in Schuld, Germany.

A man surveys what remains of his house in Schuld.

Water from the Ahr River flows past a damaged bridge in Schuld.

Evacuees ride a bus in Valkenburg aan de Geul, Netherlands.

A car floats in the Meuse River during heavy flooding in Liege, Belgium, on Thursday.

People walk on a damaged road in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany.

A resident uses a bucket to remove water from a house cellar in Hagen, Germany.

A man and woman stand on the stoop of their home as they look at floodwaters in Geulle, Netherlands.

Houses are damaged by flooding in Insul, Germany, on Thursday.

A man steps down a ladder in an attempt to cut his boat loose in the Meuse River in Liege, Belgium.

Caravans and campers are partially submerged in Roermond, Netherlands.

A destroyed building is seen in a flood-affected area of Schuld, Germany.

People walk over floodwaters in Stansstad, Switzerland.

Cars are covered by debris in Hagen, Germany.

A flood-affected area of Schuld, Germany.