District of Neu-Ulm cancels emergency response status.
Following Landkreis Rosenheim, Landkreis Neu-Ulm in Swabia also lowers the disaster alert status. Landratin Eva Treu commented, "We've had quite a struggle these past few days. I'm glad we can now remove the disaster alert. Considering our neighboring districts, we've done relatively well." Over 350 people were evacuated in the district, including those from Nersingen's refugee center, the Foundation Clinic in Weißenhorn, and the Roemervilla in Neu-Ulm. Cleanup and damage repair will still take time. "We're also thinking of the other areas still battling the flood," said Treu.
19:32: Harbors on Lake Constance battle driftwoodDriftwood brought by water masses is threatening harbors on Lake Constance. The water surface is covered with branches, tree trunks, and more, creating a brown carpet-like appearance. The driftwood presents a difficulty for harbors. At Kressbronn's yacht harbor, workers have positioned oil booms to prevent the wood from entering the harbor basin. Despite familiarity with vast amounts of driftwood, Kressbronn's harbor team admits that this time there is an unusually large quantity.
19:02: Kelheim's Donau level continues to riseAlthough the Donau level in Regensburg has slightly decreased, the Donau level in Kelheim (Lower Bavaria) is predicted to reach its peak on Wednesday. The district office shared their projection in the late afternoon. Neustadt's peak is slated for the evening as well. However, the district predicts that the Abens' water level won't increase significantly in the upcoming days. In Mainburg and Abensberg, the Donau levels have dipped below warning level 1.
18:12: Rems-Murr-Kreis lifts disaster alertThe Rems-Murr-Kreis district office lifts the disaster alert since the flood situation is improving. The initial disaster alert deployment ensures the availability of assistance and volunteers in the crisis management. Now, retention basins are gradually being drained and monitored.
17:49: Lauffen: City center flooded with sewageA sewage flood is engulfing Lauffen am Neckar (Kreis Heilbronn) in the city center, fields, and a playground. The city's construction office confirms the sludge originates from the town's sewage system, as the sewer and sewage treatment plant are overwhelmed due to the severe flooding.
17:28: Austria shuts Danube for shippingAustria has closed the entire length of the Danube for shipping, according to the State Waterway Authority "via donau." Christoph Caspar, spokesperson for "via donau," explained, "Beyond a certain water level, safety is no longer guaranteed." The closure duration depends on future rainfall and tributary water volumes. The Danube traverses Austria for over 350 kilometers, from Passau's Bavarian border city to the Slovakian capital and border city of Bratislava. The closures also include roads in Scharding, which lies on the Inn tributary, to prevent additional flooding.
17:04: Austrian woman rescued from tree after 52 hours in Neu-Ulm, BavariaA 32-year-old woman trapped in a tree in Neu-Ulm's Swabian area of Silberwald is safely extracted after more than 52 hours missing. The police department in Kempten oversaw the helicopter rescue.
16:55: "One to two more days of tension" in RegensburgRegensburg's mayor described the flood situation as tense, "We have another one to two days of genuine tension, real concern, that the flood protection we've set up on the islands will hold." The Danube's water level remains high but has yet to recede. Prime Minister Markus Söder, who visited the Upper Palatinate, added, "Regensburg is an experienced, professional, and well-prepared city for flood protection," but groundwater pressure on the anchors is making them wobbly.
The fountain system will assist in combating flooding: Grimma sets up against the overflow with a massive concrete barrier.Shortly before the completion of its refurbished historic district, Grimma encountered a monumental flood in 2002. To protect the city in Saxony from future flooding, numerous safety precautions are being adopted. One of these includes a concrete wall that extends deep into the ground.
The Rhine flood situation is progressively improving. While the water levels continue rising on the Middle Rhine and at specific places on the Upper Rhine, as per the flood forecasting center of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Environment Ministry, they are anticipated to reach their zenith levels during the evening and Wednesday. Thereafter, they are projected to decrease on the Upper Rhine until at least Sunday and on the Middle Rhine until at least the upcoming weekend. The water level at the Maxau gauge is forecasted to increase to Wednesday morning, but it is expected to fall at Mannheim. The gauge at Worms has already attained its peak level, while it is expected to attain its peak at Mainz on Tuesday night. The gauge at Kaub is likewise envisioned to reach its peak level at mid-night on Wednesday. In Koblenz, flood defenses remain intact for now, as the city reports. The Mosel gauge has moderately subsided. The forecasting center anticipates the peak level at the Koblenz gauge on Wednesday morning. With a predicted height of between 570 and 590 centimeters, it will be marginally under the two-year flood level.
The Donau gauge in Passau has dropped below the ten-meter threshold again after experiencing a ten meters level according to the flood warning service (HND) at noon. At 15:00, it reads 9.93 meters. Earlier, the city declared a disaster state due to the impending worsening of the flood situation, as well as Regensburg and several other districts. This paves the way for more efficient coordination of rescue operations.
After heavy rainfall in Poland, parts of the city of Bielsko-Biala in Silesia are under water. The mayor issues a flood warning, as reported by the news agency PAP. The fire department conducted more than 700 interventions. Basements and plots of land are flooded. Two railway lines at the local station are blocked, trains need to be rerouted to alternative tracks, and some lines are completely unavailable. The city archive and the bus depot of the municipal transport organization are also flooded. The portal "Onet.pl" publishes video clips revealing streets, traffic circles, and a bridge submerged. In the rivers of the region, water levels are currently on the rise, and at five locations, the crisis center of the regional management has declared an emergency status. The weather forecasters of the state weather service anticipate further heavy rainfall for the rest of the day.
The Interior Ministry of Bavaria reports that several people are missing following the floods in Bavaria. A spokesman for the Ministry in Munich mentions that the number of missing people at different times was seven in the morning, five in the mid-morning, and then six in the early afternoon. Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had previously stated during a cabinet meeting in the morning that the total number of missing people in the state was up to seven. The scenario is "highly malleable," emphasizes a spokesman for the Interior Ministry. It could also involve individuals who have already reported to the authorities at the location but whose report has yet to reach the situation center in Munich. "The precise numbers are hence not very reliable," the spokesman stresses. One of the missing is also a firefighter in Swabia. The 22-year-old was serving in Offingen alongside other rescue teams in a boat and experienced a capsizing. The others managed to save themselves.
The flood situation in Bavaria is still "serious and critical" according to Prime Minister Markus Söder. In Regensburg and Passau, the Danube's highest water levels are yet to be anticipated, claims the CSU politician after a cabinet meeting in Munich. "We remain vigilant." In the past few days, more than 60,000 individuals have participated in flood relief efforts in Bavaria, asserts Söder. More than 6,600 evacuations have transpired thus far. The cabinet observed a moment of silence for the three known victims of the floods this morning. Söder also discusses "up to seven missing persons, with the number potentially escalating." The state government sympathizes with the impacted, says Söder. "Their distress is also our torment." Presently, there is hope that the subsequent two days can be handled competently with respect to the flood event.
The government of Baden-Württemberg is equipped to handle the flood situation in certain regions of the state this weekend following extended rains. Minister President Winfried Kretschmann shares with reporters in Stuttgart, "We've prepared for this for quite some time and have been active for a while." He continues, "We're not reacting to this event at all because we've been reacting for a while." He praises the skilled work from the rescue squads that averted a significant catastrophe such as a power plant collapse. Kretschmann urges for a universal natural disaster insurance. "It's not gonna help," he states. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann persists in denying the implementation. Walker, Baden-Württemberg's Environment Minister, calls for routine checks of existing security measures. "We need to keep up with it," she says. Two fatalities occurred in Baden-Württemberg as a result of the floods. While the German Insurance Association opposes flooding insurance, (13 o'clock entry)
13:57: Danube water level at ten meters: Passau declares emergency response
Passau in Lower Bavaria declares an emergency situation as they anticipate further deterioration of the flood scenario. The Danube water level, according to the flood warning service (HND), is around ten meters. A spokesperson for the city also indicates the rapid advancement of the Inn peak towards the city. They foresee a six-meter water level on the Inn. Multiple streets and squares in Passau are closed, school classes are cancelled, bus commuting is affected, and access to the old town is halted. The flood zone's impact reaches the old and inner city most. The city pleads against visiting swamped areas. Avoid the whole field. The three rivers of Danube, Inn, and Ilz meet in Passau and the critical flood situation in Bavaria continues alongside the Danube.
13:13 : A woman swims in the flood in Deggendorf
A woman went for a swim in the flood in Deggendorf, Lower Bavaria - within a submerged pedestrian underpass. A city spokesperson relayed that the fire department noticed the woman wearing a bathing suit during a checkup on Monday night and extracted her from the water. City fire inspector Tim Rothenwöhrer reveals that people blatantly disregard boundaries and attempt selfies, a more frequent occurrence. This is the first situation of its kind he has encountered. Deggendorf appeals to residents to follow the swimming ban in flooded spaces and demands "patience". The bathing season in Deggendorf starts on Thursday.
13:00 GDV: Floods in Southern Germany will be a major event for insurers
The floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg will significantly affect German insurers. Jörg Asmussen, the managing director of the German Insurance Association (GDV), remarks, "The images from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg imply a lot of damage." He notes, "Our firms are receiving many damage reports." Although the magnitude of damage is unknown, they await the water levels decrease for a preliminary appraisal. The flooding in Saarland on Whit Monday costs insurers approximately 200 million euros. According to Asmussen, the expense of the flood at Lake Constance and Southern Bavaria for insurance companies is determined by the number of homes insured against natural disasters. In Bavaria, it's 47%, in Baden-Württemberg, an astounding 94%. From 1994 till now, there was a mandated flood insurance in Germany. Asmussen also speaks out against additional political demands for compulsory flood insurance. "It wasn't a free-market option. And the premiums didn't correspond to the actual risk," he says. "Insurance alone isn't the solution." Flood protection is still under discussion, requiring prohibited constructions in endangered areas and better dams. "That's the only way we can break the loop of expanding damage and escalating premiums," states the GDV's managing director.
As a result of the flood disaster affecting various parts of the nation, the Bavarian state government intends to allocate at least 100 million euros towards providing financial assistance for those impacted: "100 million plus X," remarked Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder after a meeting in Munich to discuss the matter. The relief fund is intended to benefit not only private household occupants but also commercial enterprises, self-employed individuals, and farmers, according to Söder. He further emphasized, "Bavaria assists swiftly and bureaucratically; no one shall be left alone in their time of need." Söder also implored the federal government to remain true to their promises and provide flood aid. Under the proposed scheme, households may receive up to 5,000 euros in emergency aid and up to 10,000 euros for damaged residential properties - with insurance claims taken into consideration. In cases of imminent danger, around 100% would be reimbursed. For companies and businesses, emergency aid of anywhere between 5,000 and 200,000 euros may be claimed. If the damages are insured, the amounts would be lowered.
12:23 The water level of the Donau in Passau stands close to the ten-meter mark
Currently, the water level of the Danube in Passau approaches the ten-meter mark. The flood warning service (HND) reported a water level of 9.95 meters in the afternoon. This surpasses the anticipated afternoon prognosis with 9.50 meters. Usually, with a water level of 8.50 meters, flooding begins to occur more extensively. Passau had previously reached this level in the afternoon.
12:06 The weather service emits a cautionary notice for rainfall in southern Germany at present
Based on the forecast by the German Weather Service (DWD), the majority of flood-affected regions are expected to remain mostly dry in the upcoming days. DWD meteorologist Robert Hausen explained in Offenbach that while occasional showers and thunderstorms may occur, they will not come in the form of heavy rainfall. Throughout the nation until Thursday, this applies. Temperatures in the north and northwest will remain below 20 degrees Celsius, which is standard for the season. In the rest of the country, an expected 21 to 26 degrees Celsius is anticipated. Evening temperatures might be cooler than 10 degrees. The rainfall intensity will then gradually rise once again starting in the weekend. In the south, rain showers and even thunderstorms are predicted - however, not of the magnitude experienced previously. At this juncture, it's too early for further clarity: "We hope that the water levels have stabilized by then."
11:48 The flood situation in Bavaria exhibits significant improvement
The official flood warning system of Bavaria continues to report a tenuous flood situation brought on by high water levels; however, there is no more anticipated heavy rainfall, and some levels are expected to significantly decline. The focus of the flood situation presently revolves around the Danube. The situation in this river is also claimed to be improving, as the water levels of the Danube tributaries are observed to be substantially decreasing. The biggest flood threat is anticipated to reach level four in Ingolstadt in the evening. In Kelheim, only minor increases can be detected within level four throughout the context of flooding from 2005. In Passau, it is suggested that the Danube water level will fall beneath the 2002 flood mark. Until Wednesday, high water levels are anticipated in the Danube section between Kelheim and Passau.
11:20 Fifth reported flood-related fatality in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg
The tally of known flood-related deaths in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg has risen to five, as reported by the police. According to police reports, a woman in Markt Rettenbach, Bavaria, crashed her car into the water on Monday and was later discovered deceased. A medical professional only confirmed her death. The female driver was navigating a flooded state road in Markt Rettenbach while avoiding a barrier. Her car slid down the road onto a meadow next to the flooded area. The water level was so high that her vehicle was immediately submerged. The woman had phoned emergency services and notified them her car was full of water. When a staff member of the water management office encountered the vehicle, it was nearly entirely submerged, the police report. The investigators presume a "tragic accident." Earlier, authorities had signaled four flood-related casualties.
11:03 Autobahn 9 in Upper Bavaria completely open to traffic again
The section of Autobahn 9 that had been partially blocked due to a dam break in Upper Bavaria is now open for travel in both directions without limitations. The closure of the motorway in the direction of Munich was dismantled in the morning. The road is completely "unrestrictedly drivable" on the part between Ingolstadt-South and Langenbruck. Earlier, the police had allowed only 300 vehicles to advance on this section. Other roads in the region, including the B16 spanning from Manching to Ernsgaden, persist in being closed due to flooding.
Due to heavy rainfall, Germany's vital waterway, the Rhine, is no longer passable in numerous areas. "Shipping has been stopped on the Middle and Upper Rhine," states a spokesperson from the Waterways and Shipping Office Rhine (WSA) to Reuters news agency. At the start of the week, only the Upper Rhine was closed at locations such as Maxau, Mannheim, and Worms, but parts of the Middle Rhine are now also hit, including Mainz and Bingen. "Numerous vessels have already docked or remained at port," the spokesperson says. "They are waiting for the water levels to lower again." The peak could still be reached in the afternoon or evening. The Bingen region could potentially be passable by Thursday. "It will take several days for shipping to cease." Consequently, damaging the riverbanks is being prevented. The boats produce waves that can overflow the banks and flood basements, for example.
10:20 More disruptions on numerous lines in South Germany
Following the flooding in certain regions of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the Deutsche Bahn cannot operate some lines in local and long-distance transportation. Four lines are still impacted by disruptions, the Deutsche Bahn reports. They involve the section between Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich on the Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich line, the section between Donauwörth and Augsburg on the Nuremberg-Donauwörth-Augsburg-Munich line, the section between Buchloe and Memmingen on the Munich-Memmingen-Lindau line, and the entire Ulm-Memmingen-Kempten line. In essence, Munich is cut off from the west and north. However, the Bahn advises against train trips to South Germany. On these lines, there are individual breakdowns and delays: 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, Nuremberg-Würzburg.
10:06 Continued search for missing firefighter using drones and helicopters
The search for a missing firefighter in flood-stricken Swabia is proceeding, according to police information, but not in the water itself at this moment. The current is too dangerous for the rescue teams to search from the water, states Police Spokesman Holger Stabik. The search will be carried out from land and from the air. Drones and a helicopter will be used in the process. The firefighter is believed to have drowned. If the 22-year-old did perish, he would be the fifth reported victim of the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
09:38 Corrected information: Search for missing firefighter still underway
The search for a firefighter who went missing in the flooded Swabia area continues, as corrected by the police. (See entry at 6:22 AM) The firefighter is still missing, a police spokesperson said earlier. The 22-year-old man was in a DRLG water rescue boat in Offingen near the border with Baden-Württemberg when the boat capsized in strong currents. The boat was occupied by five emergency responders. Four of them aged between 24 and 70 safely reached shore without injury.
08:45 Regensburg mayor cautions against high water tourism
The mayor of the flooded city of Regensburg, Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, is urging against high water tourism. "We have a lot of tourists, but please don't go and look," Maltz-Schwarzfischer says in Bavarian Television. Visitors should especially avoid walking on the bridges, as rescuers could be on them. In the city of Regensburg along the Danube, the situation is tense at night, as the mayor explained. The high water levels and unstable ground threaten evacuations. The water level had reached its peak at night, Maltz-Schwarzfischer hopes that the water levels will decrease during the day on Tuesday. It's challenging to determine whether dams and protective structures will hold, asserts the mayor. "We are in a different situation compared to, for example, 2013, because we have very high water levels and the soil is becoming increasingly unstable. And the pressure on the dams with fluctuating ground is already critical."
In Lower Bavaria, particularly in Passau, the flood situation has gotten more severe. The city had anticipated reaching a water level of 9.50 meters around noon, but it's already gone past that threshold, as informed by ntv correspondent Felix Balß.
07:48 The Bavarian Fire Brigade Association: This scale of deployment is unparalleled
The Bavarian fire departments are currently needed more than ever due to the flood, according to Bavarian Fire Brigade Association's head Johann Eitzenberger. He mentions to Süddeutsche Zeitung that in this magnitude and extent, it's really unique. There are 30,000 voluntary firefighters on duty, attempting to prevent and minimize damage wherever possible. The situation remains relatively manageable for now, but we can't rule out further events, he added. There's also a need for specialized skills, such as handling heating oil spills.
07:28 Video: Danube's force testing dikes and defensive walls
The Danube's enormous water mass is pressing against dikes and additional barriers in southern Germany. Some dikes are on the verge of collapsing. The Passau city center is already submerged and closed off.
06:55 Burg Falkenstein: Portions crumbling - residents evacuated
A portion of the Burg Falkenstein castle in Upper Bavaria's Flintsbach has begun to crumble due to the continuous rain. Authorities evacuated 50 residents from the area, reports the Rosenheim district. The castle's ruins are a popular hiking destination. The main castle Falkenstein was constructed in the 13th century, while the outer castle dates back to 15th and 16th centuries. After an extensive renewal phase in the 16th and 17th centuries, the castle was destroyed by fires and was left as a ruin. The full damage to the ruin is unclear.
06:22 Rescuers no longer actively searching for a missing firefighter
The search for a missing firefighter in the Swabia flood has been called off. A 22-year-old is presumed dead and will be found once the water subsides. The young man was making his way to Offingen near the Baden-Wuerttemberg border with a boat from the DLRG lifeguard between Sunday and Monday. The boat with five rescue workers capsized in strong currents. Four rescue workers between the ages of 24 and 70 managed to make it to land without injury.
Note: The police later mentioned that the search for the missing firefighter would continue (see entry at 9:38 am).
06:03 "Century-level rainfall" at many South German stations
It has rained as much in South Germany over the past few days as it does every 50 to 100 years, preliminary data show. "We're talking about century-level rainfall," explains meteorologist Thomas Deutschlaender of the German Weather Service. "It's notable, but not wholly surprising." He emphasized that the data is still preliminary and required verification. "More is expected to come; the current data are a bit cautious."
05:33 Danube in Passau surpasses nine-meter mark
The water level of the Danube in Passau has exceeded the nine-meter mark in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The high water alert service (HND) reported a water height of 9.27 meters at 3 a.m. On Monday evening, the gauge reading was still 8.83 meters. According to the HND forecast, the peak will be reached at noon on Tuesday, reaching 9.50 meters. The Passau old town was closed for traffic due to the flood for the most part on Monday. By the time the water levels reached 8.50 meters, beaches began to flood more extensively. This level was achieved in Passau on Monday afternoon.
04:07 About 200 people in Regensburg required to evacuate
Due to a worsening flood situation, approximately 200 residents in Regensburg's old town were ordered to leave their homes. "Since the subsoil of the Werftstraße is getting increasingly swollen with the high groundwater level, there is an immediate danger that the flood protection elements will no longer support," announced the Bavarian city on its website. Hence, the intervention services have decided to evacuate all residents of the entire street.
02:47 Flood situation in Rosenheim district slightly improving
Despite the flood situation being generally severe in the southern Rosenheim district, it's showing some signs of improvement. The district made this announcement. Schools and kindergartens in the affected areas are expected to remain closed on Tuesday. The raubling and Rohrdorf communities apparently experienced evacuations. Initially, it was not clear how many individuals were affected. Previously, the district had declared a disaster. 1,000 emergency personnel from the fire department and the Technical Relief Organization were onsite, the district also added. Meteorologists predict that the rainfall in Bavaria will end by Tuesday night.
In the midst of the chaotic flood situation in southern Germany, the German Weather Service (DWD) has decided to remove all weather warnings for the country. This revelation was made by DWD themselves. Intense downpours over the past few days have drastically increased water levels of multiple streams and rivers, particularly in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, resulting in entire towns being submerged, despite several dams caving in. Tragically, at least four fatalities have occurred during this devastating event. The situation in specific regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg persists to be intense on Monday.
00:12 Many water levels within the southwest are decliningOnce more, the water levels on most riverways in the southwest are dropping once again after the torrential floods during the previous days. Only at the major rivers such as the Danube and the Rhine, teachings from the Flood Forecasting Center indicate that the water is still on the rise. Nevertheless, there aren't any critically high levels foreseen that might surpass expectations, states a spokeswoman. Rising waters are still observed at the Danube from the Hundersingen dam in the district of Sigmaringen, as well as at Lake Constance, the High Rhine, and the Upper Rhine. At the Maxau dam near Karlsruhe, the peak level, which had been recorded as 8.29 meters on Sunday, is predicted not to be surpassed once more. The Neckar trend is decreasing.
22:53 Rosenheim district: Inhabitants are advised to remain indoorsThe Rosenheim district in Upper Bavaria requests citizens to remain within the safety of their homes amidst the flood turmoil. "There is a substantial danger to life and limb," says an official statement. People are advised to abstain from venturing outdoors, avoid all contact with open bodies of water, and refrain from hindering rescue services. On Tuesday, specific communities including Brannenburg, Raubling, Rohrdorf, Oberaudorf, Kiefersfelden, Nussdorf, Neubeuern, Bad Feilnbach, and Flintsbach will have instructions halted. The State Education Authority Rosenheim will notify the affected schools. Kindergartens within the impacted towns will likely remain shuttered.
21:47 Rosenheim district: Pieces of Burg Falkenstein have crumbledIn Flintsbach, part of Burg Falkenstein has crumbled because of the heavy rain, as confirmed by the Rosenheim district administration. Approximately 50 residents below the castle are being asked to leave their homes.
21:08 Germany's most expansive camping ground must be emptiedThe camping site in North Rhine-Westphalia, Wesel, is scheduled to be entirely evacuated within the next 24 hours on account of the flood situation, as per the Grav-Island operators. The recurring floodwaters in the neighboring rivers and lakes compelled this, as the Grav-Island operators relay. The Grav-Island is the largest camping site in Germany, boasting 5000 permanent campers.
20:53 Soil disintegrating: Regensburg's Werftstraße is being evacuatedThe Regensburg Werftstraße is being emptied, as revealed by the city of Regensburg. The street is situated adjacent to the Danube and the ground beneath it is softening due to the intensely high groundwater levels. The installed flood mitigation components may fail, potentially flooding the street. Around 200 individuals will have to vacate by 21:00.
