The Interior Ministry - Flooding in Bavaria forces thousands to evacuate their homes.
Over the course of the weekend, hefty rainfall led to considerable flooding in numerous places within the German region of Bavaria. As of Friday evening, nearly 50,000 emergency responders had been hard at work, primarily in the regions of Upper Bavaria and Swabia, constructing sandbags, removing water, defining hazard zones, and rescuing individuals from their flooded houses. Amidst the chaos, one firefighter lost his life and another one went missing, along with a woman.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens), Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), and Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) were spotted in regions especially hard-hit by the flooding, where they could observe the dire situation firsthand. PM Söder commended the community members' resilience, noting that their solidarity was incredibly heartening.
In a compassionate tone, Söder remarked: "We will make it through this together." Simultaneously, Habeck and Söder expressed their shock and sadness at the death of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. The firefighter, aided by fellow rescue workers, had been working tirelessly to save people from flood-affected areas when he tragically perished.
District officials reported that the unidentified firefighter was aboard a rescue boat when the vessel capsized, leaving him submerged. Despite their mighty efforts, his rescue remained elusive until the following morning. Additionally, an employee from an electricity company was severely injured within the Upper Bavarian district of Freising. This incident occurred when he was conducting flood-related work, resulting in him receiving an electric shock, according to the local police.
Swabia remains vigilant for another missing firefighter in Offingen. Born in 1999, this rescue worker had also been aboard a rescue boat during the nighttime shift on Saturday. While his colleagues managed to hightail it to safety, the young man could not be found, and his whereabouts remain uncertain. Moreover, in Schrobenhausen, there are grave concerns for a female individual believed trapped in a flooded basement. Until Sunday night, attempts to investigate the area were postponed due to the continuously dangerous circumstances.
The onslaught of relentless rainfall began on Friday evening, causing countless streams and rivers in Bavaria to overflow. The German Meteorological Service (DWD) accounted for over 129 liters of rainfall in Bad Wörishofen (west of Munich) within a 24-hour span. This is significantly more than the average monthly rainfall of 101 liters. Since Friday, emergency departments and other related services have been in nonstop mode - pumping water, shielding areas, and, of course, saving lives. There's even been a spate of accidents due to aquaplaning on the roads. The DWD failed to provide a warning on Sunday night but anticipated more rainfall on the horizon.
More than ten districts have been proclaimed emergencies. A whopping 3,000+ citizens have been displaced from their homes due to the flood disaster in Bavaria. The situation in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm and along the Danube took a turn for the worse on Sunday. A fire department representative warned: "This is an unpredictable flood that we've never experienced before."
For the forthcoming week, it's anticipated that the issues in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm and surrounding areas along the Danube will escalate. Bavaria's Environment Minister, Thorsten Glauber (Free Voter), plans to allocate forces and resources to protect the regions in question. "We'll be documenting all the damages," he stated, "so we can help swiftly." Söder hopes the federal government will offer financial support in aiding these regions. Moreover, it's crucial to look into property insurance policies for natural disasters.
As the beginning of the new week approaches, Bavaria's Minister of the Environment, Thorsten Glauber, foresees worsening conditions along the Danube. "Everyone is working diligently to prepare the areas as well as possible for the oncoming high water wave," Glauber shared. "People are being evacuated, sandbags are being piled up, and the protective facilities for the Danube are being strengthened," he continued.
The water management administration will activate and fill the existing storage and retention facilities in the tributaries to help mitigate the strain on high water protection facilities on the Danube. On Monday, Germany's Federal Chancellor, Olaf Scholz (SPD), and Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, will assess the situtation in the Upper Bavarian town of Reichertshofen and converse with the emergency responders. It's become increasingly apparent that climate change has a role in amplifying extreme weather events.
As the week rolls on, ADAC air rescue is preparing for an uptick in severity along the Danube. Ten rescue helicopters are currently available, five of which include wind capabilities. One extra helicopter equipped with wind was deployed from Augsburg Clinic on Sunday, while a second similar vehicle continues to wait in Ingolstadt, equipped to provide rescue assistance both in Straubing and the surrounding regions. The ADAC anticipates continuous operation in relation to the flood crisis in Bavaria until midweek.
A power outage left several districts in dark conditions.
Across multiple areas, the electricity went kaput over the weekend. "The blackouts are chiefly clustered beside the rivers and can be tackled regarding the power grid," said Finance Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Freie Wowenhauer). "To the greatest extent, the responsible energy network managers are endeavoring to maintain electrical service by shifting to additional wires." For the time being, no severe power shortages are anticipated. However, several people were also switched off on purpose. A good number of individuals couldn't communicate anymore due to their phone battery running out.
