A few more days of significant tension are anticipated in Regensburg.

Anticipated to be another few days of considerable stress in Regensburg.

The mayor of Regensburg describes the city's flood situation as tense. "We've still got another couple of days where we're really concerned that the protective measures we've built on the islands will hold," says Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer during a visit by Bavaria's minister president, Markus Söder, in the Upper Palatinate. The soil on the Danube islands is "really wet," "wet, swampy," and "like jelly," she explains. "The situation remains tense." The water level of the Danube is high but has not decreased yet. Söder describes Regensburg as "experienced, professional, and well-prepared for flood protection." However, the groundwater is pushing against the anchors of the facilities, making them "wobbly."

In Saxony, they're setting up a fountain system to help prevent flood damage. Grimma has previously experienced a historic flood in 2002 and needs protective measures. One of them is a concrete wall that extends deep into the ground.

The flood situation along the Rhine is gradually improving. The water levels are rising at the Middle Rhine and several points on the Upper Rhine, according to the Flood Forecasting Center of the State Environment Agency of Rhineland-Palatinate. They're expected to reach their peak levels by evening and on Wednesday. After that, they're expected to drop until Sunday and at the Middle Rhine over the weekend. The water level is expected to rise until Wednesday morning at the Maxau gauge. But it's expected to fall in Mannheim. The highest level has already been reached at the Worms gauge, while in Mainz, it's predicted to be reached Tuesday evening or night. At the Kaub gauge, the highest level will be reached Wednesday night. The city of Koblenz plans to keep the flood protection measures in place for now. The Mosel gauge has dropped slightly. The Flood Forecasting Center anticipates the highest level at the Koblenz gauge to be reached on Wednesday morning, with a height of between 570 and 590 centimeters, just below the two-year average.

After reaching ten meters at noon, the Danube level in Passau has fallen again to 9.93 meters at 3:00 p.m. The city had declared a disaster situation due to anticipated worsening flood conditions, like Regensburg and other districts. This aids in coordinating rescue efforts better.

Heavy rainfall in southern Poland has caused parts of Bielsko-Biala to flood. The mayor has issued a flood warning, as reported by the PAP news agency. The fire department has responded to over 700 incidents. Many cellars and plots are submerged. The local train station's two tracks are blocked, and some trains are out of service. The city archive and the bus depot of the municipal transport companies are also flooded. "Onet.pl" has published video clips showing streets, traffic circles, and a bridge underwater. In the region's rivers, the water level is increasing, and the district administration's crisis center has called an alarm status at five locations. Meteorologists from the state meteorological service predict more heavy rain for the rest of the day.

Bavaria's Interior Ministry reports several missing persons due to floods in the state. A spokesman in Munich mentions changing numbers throughout the day - seven in the morning, five, then six before the afternoon. Prime Minister Markus Söder had mentioned a maximum of seven missing during a cabinet meeting. The situation is "extremely volatile," according to the spokesman. Some missing people may have already reported to authorities on-site, but their report might not have reached the crisis center in Munich yet. "The precise numbers aren't that reliable," the spokesman reaffirms. A firefighter in Swabia is missing too. The 22-year-old was in Offingen with other rescue teams in a boat when it capsized. The others managed to rescue themselves.

The flood situation in Bavaria is still "severe and critical," notes Markus Söder, a CSU politician, following a cabinet meeting in Munich. In Regensburg and Passau, the highest water levels of the Danube are predicted, says Söder. The authorities continue to work hard to address the situation. More than 60,000 people have been involved in the flood response in Bavaria, and over 6,600 evacuations have taken place. The cabinet held a moment of silence for the three known casualties caused by the floods. Söder also mentioned up to seven missing persons, which could increase. The Bavarian government is in touch with the people affected, expressing empathy for their suffering. They aim to handle the next two days as well as possible regarding the flood situation.

Kretschmann, the Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, states that their state is well-prepared for the flooding that recently occurred in some parts due to the heavy rainfall. "We've been prepared for a long time and have been active for a long time," says Kretschmann, adding, "We don't react at all to this event because we've been reacting for a long time." Focusing on the proactive approach of the emergency services, he emphasizes the importance of general natural disaster insurance. However, Justice Minister Marco Buschmann still refuses implementation. Environment Minister Thekla Walker recommends regular checks for existing protective measures.

Passau, a city in Bavaria, has declared a state of disaster due to the expected worsening of the flooding in the area. By 1:30 PM, the Danube's water level measured at ten meters. The peak of the Inn, coupled with heavy rain on Monday, may cause a water level of over seven meters in Passau. Various streets, squares, and schools have already been closed, while transport services are disrupted. The Old Town is primarily impacted, with limited access. Passau authorities advise people to stay away from flooded areas.

In Deggendorf, a woman went swimming in a flooded underpass wearing a bathing suit, reports a city spokesperson. The fire department discovered her during a patrol on Monday evening and rescued her from the water. The fire inspector, Tim Rothenwöhrer, expresses his astonishment, as he has not witnessed a similar case before. The city requests citizens to obey the swimming ban in flooded areas and asks for patience. Deggendorf's swimming season begins on Thursday.

Asmussen, the managing director of the German Insurance Association, believes that the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg will have major consequences for insurers. "The images from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg suggest a lot of damage," says Asmussen. "Our companies are already receiving many damage reports." However, it remains too early for an accurate assessment. Flooding in Saarland during the Pentecost weekend cost insurers around 200 million euros. The extent of the damage depends on how many houses are insured for natural disasters. In Bavaria, this rate is 47%, and in Baden-Württemberg, it's 94%. Asmussen opposes additional compulsory insurance against floods, a view shared by the German Insurance Association. He maintains that previous insurance measures didn't accurately reflect the risk. He believes building bans in vulnerable areas and better dams are necessary to break the cycle of increasing damage and premiums.

12:42 Söder: Bavaria will give 100 million euros and more for flood relief

After the devastating floods in several regions of the country, the Bavarian government has decided to provide at least 100 million euros, plus additional funding, in financial aid to those affected. This announcement came from Minister President Markus Söder, following a cabinet meeting in Munich. Söder mentioned that the aid package would be available to both residential homes and commercial enterprises, self-employed individuals, and farmers. He emphasized, "Bavaria helps quickly and with minimal bureaucracy." Söder also urged the federal government to follow through on its previous promises and provide support for flood relief. Per Bavarian guidelines, households can receive up to 5,000 euros in emergency aid, while those experiencing oil damage to their homes may qualify for up to 10,000 euros—but these amounts will have insurance benefits deducted at the end. For cases involving an existential threat, up to 100% assistance would be provided, Söder announced. Commercial enterprises are eligible to receive between 5,000 and 200,000 euros in emergency aid, and these amounts will be reduced if the damage is insurable.

12:23 Danube in Passau nearly reaches ten-meter mark

The water level of the Danube in Passau is almost at the ten-meter mark. At noon today, the flood warning service (HND) reported a water level of 9.95 meters, significantly higher than the anticipated 9.50 meters in the afternoon. At a water level of 8.50 meters, floods will affect built-up areas to a greater extent. This level was already reached in Passau in the afternoon.

12:06 German Meteorological Service issues a warning for rain in southern Germany for now

According to the German Meteorological Service's (DWD) weather forecast, rainfall in flood areas will be minimal in the coming days. DWD meteorologist Robert Hausen from Offenbach explains, "We can now issue a warning for southern Germany." While occasional showers and thunderstorms are possible, "they won't be heavy rain." This outlook extends nationwide until Thursday. Temperatures in the north and northwest will be below 20 degrees, which is typical for this time of year, according to the meteorologist. In the rest of the country, expect temperatures ranging from 21 to 26 degrees, with cooler than ten-degree nights. Over the weekend, rainfall is predicted to increase again—especially in the southern regions, where rain and thunderstorms are anticipated, although not as intense as previous days. For now, the DWD is hesitant to make any specific predictions, hoping that water levels will have stabilized by that time.

11:48 Easing flood situation in Bavaria: fewer fears for additional flooding

Officials from the flood warning service Bavaria report that the overwhelming flood situation has lessened, with no further heavy rain forecasts expected to cause additional flooding. They also expect the water levels to decrease in some places. The Danube remains a primary concern as water levels are still potentially high in the Danube region. In Ingolstadt, the flood peak is anticipated to be slightly above the highest alert level four sometime this evening. In Kelheim, there is currently only a slight increase within alert level four, which was experienced during the flood of 2005. In Passau, the Danube level is expected to be below the 2002 floodmark—previously, it was speculated that it would reach a level on par with the 2002 flood. Despite this, high water levels are still expected to persist in the Danube section from Kelheim to Passau until Wednesday.

11:20 Fifth fatality due to flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg: woman drowns in Markt Rettenbach

The death toll from the flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg has reached five, as reported by the police. Details of the incident in Markt Rettenbach, Bavaria, state that a woman traveling in her car drove past a roadblock and drove onto a meadow adjacent to the road, where the water level was too high for her vehicle. After calling rescue services on her cell phone and informing them that her car was filled with water, the woman was found dead by a water management office employee, who discovered her submerged vehicle. The autopsy performed by a doctor confirmed her death. The authorities consider this a "tragic accident," as four fatalities related to the floods had previously been reported.

The partially closed stretch of Autobahn 9 in Upper Bavaria, which was shut down due to a dam break, has now been reopened without any restrictions. The police stated that a block put in place on Monday towards Munich was removed in the morning, and all lanes are now "completely driveable" on the section between Ingolstadt-South and Langenbruck. During the blockage, only 300 vehicles were allowed on the stretch at a time, and the road was repeatedly closed for short periods. Meanwhile, other roads in the area like the federal road 16 between Manching and Ernsgaden remain shut due to flooding.

10:40 River shipping suspended on the Middle and Upper Rhine due to high water

Germany's most vital waterway, the Rhine, has become non-navigable in many areas due to constant rainfall. A spokesperson for the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) told Reuters news agency that "river shipping on the Middle and Upper Rhine has come to a standstill." Initially, only Upper Rhine regions such as Maxau, Mannheim, and Worms were affected, but the situation now encompasses the Middle Rhine areas like Mainz and Bingen. Ships are currently docked or in ports, awaiting the water levels to drop again. The peak could still arrive later on the day or in the evening. The area around Bingen could conceivably be navigable again by Thursday. The closures are implemented to prevent damage to the banks. The waves generated by the ships can overflow the banks and flood basements, for instance.

10:20 Additional train disruptions on multiple lines in the southern Germany region

Several lines in local and long-distance traffic are experiencing disruptions because of flooding in parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. The Deutsche Bahn has stated that there are now train disruptions on four lines. The affected areas include the section between Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich on the line Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich; the section between Nuremberg-Donauwörth-Augsburg-Munich on the line Nuremberg-Donauwörth-Augsburg-Munich; the section between Buchloe and Memmingen on the line Munich-Memmingen-Lindau; and the entire line Ulm-Memmingen-Kempten. Essentially, there's no way to reach Munich from the west and north. But the train company still advises against taking train journeys to South Germany. Delays and cancellations are present on various lines like Munich-Nuremberg-Erfurt-Berlin, Karlsruhe-Stuttgart-Ulm, Augsburg-Munich, Stuttgart-Mannheim-Frankfurt(M), Munich-Lindau-Bregenz-Zurich, Karlsruhe-Stuttgart-Crailsheim-Nuremberg, Augsburg-Kempten(Allgäu)-Oberstdorf, and Nuremberg-Würzburg.

10:06 Police retract statement: Search for missing firefighter continues with drones and helicopters

The search for a missing firefighter in Swabia's flooding is still ongoing. Police had previously corrected their previous notice discontinuing the search (see entry at 06:22 am). The 22-year-old is assumed to have drowned. The young man had gone out on a boat from the DLRG lifeguard service in Offingen, near the border with Baden-Württemberg, during the night from Sunday to Monday. The boat, with five lifeguards aboard, capsized in strong currents. Four lifeguards aged between 24 and 70 managed to reach land and remained unharmed.

08:45 "Don't stare, just see what's happening": Regensburg mayor warns against flood tourism

The mayor of Regensburg is cautioning against flood tourism as the rescue operations are in full swing. Local media reported flooding engulfing the city on Sunday night. The mayor, Dr. Georg Kronawitter, urged residents not to observe the scene and only keep track of the latest news. Kronawitter stated that spectators slow down the team's operations. He also mentioned that it is "difficult enough to rescue people."

The Mayor of Regensburg Warns Against Flood Tourism and Urges Visitors to Stay Away

The mayor of the currently flooded city of Regensburg, Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, is warning against flood tourism. "We already have a lot of tourists, but now the locals are also moving," she said in a statement to the Bavarian Broadcasting Corporation. "Please don't go and look, just see what's going on," Maltz-Schwarzfischer pleaded. She specifically urged visitors not to go on the bridges, as helpers could be on the way there.

The White River floods in the center of Bielsko-Biala.

The situation in the fourth largest city in Bavaria, situated on the Danube, was tense at night, according to the mayor. The high groundwater levels and the unstable subsoil pose a threat to evacuations. The flood peak was reached at night, and she hoped that the water levels would drop during the day. However, it's unclear whether the dams and protective structures will hold. "We have a different situation than in 2013; we have very high groundwater levels and the subsoil is becoming so unstable," she said. "The pressure on the dams with a fluctuating subsoil is already critical."

Flood Situation in Passau Worsens, with Water Level Already at 9.54 Meters

The situation in the Lower Bavarian Passau is developing particularly dramatically. The city had expected the flood peak for the afternoon at a water level of 9.50 meters, but now it's already significantly above this mark, as reported by ntv reporter Felix Balß.

Unprecedented Response by the Bavarian Fire Brigade Association

The fire brigades in Bavaria are being called upon like never before, according to the Bavarian Fire Brigade Association. "In this way and to this extent, this is truly unique," said association chief Johann Eitzenberger to the Süddeutsche Zeitung. "We have 30,000 volunteer firefighters serving daily, and we're trying to prevent and minimize damage wherever possible." The situation is currently somewhat under control, but there might be more unexpected events, said Eitzenberger. "There will also be a need for special skills for a long time to come, such as dealing with oil from heating tanks."

Danube and Dams Threatened by Massive Water

With enormous water masses, the Danube is pressing against dams and additional protective walls in southern Germany. Some of the dikes are now beginning to give way and break. The Passau city center is already underwater and closed, and the high groundwater levels and unstable subsoil make the situation critical.

Parts of Burg Falkenstein Slide Down, 50 Residents Evacuated

Parts of Burg Falkenstein in Upper Bavaria have slid down due to the relentless rain. Below the castle, 50 residents have been evacuated, according to the Rosenheim district. The Burg Falkenstein in Flintsbach is a popular hiking destination. The main castle Falkenstein was built around 1300. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the forecourt was built. After a comprehensive expansion phase in the 16th and 17th centuries, the complex was largely destroyed by fires. It's part of the Petersberg monument complex with the Roman Peterskirche and the adjacent Mesner House. The extent of the damage to the ruin is not known.

Search for Missing Firefighter Continues but is no Longer Actively Pursued

The search for a missing firefighter in the flooding in Swabia is no longer being actively pursued, but it will continue. It's likely that the 22-year-old drowned, said a police spokesman. He will likely be found when the water has receded. The young man had been on his way to Offingen near the border with Baden-Württemberg with a rescue boat from the DLRG water rescue in the night from Sunday to Monday. The boat with five rescue crew members was capsized by strong currents. Four rescue crew members between the ages of 24 and 70 were able to reach land and remain unharmed.

Note: The police have since announced that the search for the missing firefighter will continue.

"Century-Rainfalls" - Stations Measure Unprecedented Amounts of Rain

At several locations in southern Germany, as much rain has fallen in recent days as only every 50 to 100 years, according to preliminary data. "We can speak of century-rainfalls," said meteorologist Thomas Deutschländer of the German Weather Service. "That's quite special, but not completely unusual." "All this is still preliminary; we have to check the data." Sometimes stations are missing or the measurements are too low. "In general, however, there is usually a little more to come, the current data are rather conservative."

4:07 Evacuation for 200 people in Regensburg

Because the flood situation is getting worse, officials in Regensburg are telling 200 residents in the inner city to leave their homes. According to the city's website, the ground on Werftstrasse is swelling due to the high water levels, and there's a risk the flood protection barriers will no longer work. So, they've decided to evacuate the entire street.

2:47 Slight improvement in Rosenheim flood situation

The flood situation in the Rosenheim district is showing some improvement. The district has reported this. The schools and kindergartens in the affected areas will stay closed on Tuesday. There were evacuations in Raubling and Rohrdorf, but it's unclear how many people are affected. The district had previously declared a disaster situation. Over 1000 first responders from the fire department and Technical Relief Organization are at the scene, the district adds. The German Weather Service says rainfall in Germany should lessen overnight.

1:28 German Weather Service lifts all weather warnings

Amid the tense flood situation in Southern Germany, the German Weather Service (DWD) has taken away all weather warnings for the whole of Germany. DWD reports this. Lengthy rainfall in the past few days caused many streams and rivers, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, to rise dramatically. Whole communities were flooded, even after dams broke. At least 4 people have perished in the floods thus far. The situation in parts of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg remains tense on Monday.

12:00 Many water levels in the southwest are falling

Following the floods of recent days, water levels are dropping at most watercourses in the southwest. Only at large rivers like the Danube and Rhine are there still rising water levels, as stated by the flood forecasting center. There are no more critical values expected that could be surpassed, says a spokesperson. At the Danube from Hundersingen Pegel in the Sigmaringen district downstream, as well as at Lake Constance, Lake High Rhine, and Upper Rhine, the water is now rising. At the Maxau Pegel near Karlsruhe, the peak value, which was 8.29 meters on Sunday, won't be surpassed. The Neckar is showing a downward trend.

22:53 Rosenheim District: Stay home during flood

The Rosenheim District in Upper Bavaria is advising citizens to stay home because of the flood. "There's a great danger to life and limb," says a statement from the authority. People should avoid going outdoors, stay away from open waters, and not hinder rescue services in their work. Tuesday, schools will be closed in several municipalities: in Brannenburg, Raubling, Rohrdorf, Oberaudorf, Kiefersfelden, Nussdorf, Neubeuern, Bad Feilnbach, and Flintsbach. The State Education Authority Rosenheim will inform the affected schools. The kindergartens in the towns should also stay shut.

21:47 Rosenheim District: Burg Falkenstein's part collapses

In Flintsbach, part of Burg Falkenstein has collapsed due to heavy rain in the Rosenheim District. The Rosenheim District administration reported this. Under the castle, 50 residents must be evacuated.

21:08 Germany's largest camping site to be evacuated

The camping site in Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia, will need to be cleared within the next 24 hours due to the flood situation. The Grav-Island operators report this. Rising water levels in the adjacent rivers and waters are the reason for this, as mentioned by the operators. The Grav-Island is the largest camping site in Germany with 5,000 permanent campers.

20:53 Regensburg's Werftstraße to be evacuated

Regensburg's Werftstraße is to be evacuated, as the city indicates. The street is located right next to the Danube, and the ground on the street is becoming softer due to the high water levels. The flood protection barriers could fail and the street could get flooded. About 200 people should now be evacuated by 9 pm.

Earlier developments can be found here.