Interior Ministry - Floodwaters engulf Bavaria, forcing thousands to evacuate their residences.
Torrential downpours over the weekend resulted in widespread flooding across Bavaria. Thousands of emergency responders have been operating around the clock since Friday evening, with their efforts primarily focused in Upper Bavaria and Swabia. They're building sandbag barriers, pumping water, shutting off hazardous areas, and rescuing individuals from their flooded homes. A firefighter lost his life, while another remains missing, along with a woman. As the Danube flood wave approaches, preparations are being made.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck (Greens), Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU), and Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) visited severely impacted neighborhoods to witness the situation firsthand. Söder expressed appreciation for those in affected areas. The shared compassion and mutual aid were inspiring.
Söder applauded the people, saying, "Together, we'll get through this." Habeck and Söder were struck by the loss of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. Rescue workers – both volunteers and professionals – put their lives on the line in flood-prone regions to save others. "It's heartbreaking. He died attempting to rescue people from the flood," Habeck stated.
According to the district administration, the man was in a rescue boat when it overturned. While the others managed to save themselves, the man remained missing and was later found dead early on Sunday morning.
A worker for an energy company endured a severe electric shock in Allershausen, part of the Upper Bavarian region of Freising, while carrying out work pertaining to the flood. Police believe the injuries were related to flood-related tasks.
Officials are still searching for a firefighter who disappeared in Offingen, Swabia, in the middle of the night on Sunday. The 22-year-old was also in a rescue boat during the incident. In Schrobenhausen, there's a suspicion of a woman missing in a flooded basement, but rescuers could not explore it until Sunday evening due to the dangerous conditions.
Since Friday evening, excessive rainfall has persisted, and the ground could no longer absorb the water. Countless streams and rivers in Bavaria have overflowed. In Bad Wörishofen west of Munich, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) reported 129 liters of rain over 24 hours. This surpasses the monthly average of 101 liters. Emergency services, including fire departments, are continuously active – removing water, closing off areas, and rescuing people. Several road accidents occurred due to aquaplaning, resulting in injured individuals. The DWD didn't issue a warning on Sunday evening and predicted more rain.
Söder and Habeck tour flood-impacted areas
A state of disaster was declared in more than ten districts. The Bavarian Interior Ministry revealed that over 3,000 individuals had to evacuate their homes due to flooding. The Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm district and Danube area faced escalation on Sunday. A fire department spokesperson described the impending flood as unpredictable, indicating its unprecedented nature.
Söder announced that they were tallying all damages to take quick action. He expressed hope that the federal government would contribute financially to the relief effort. He also suggested exploring insurance policies for natural disasters. "Frequent climate events will unfortunately become more frequent in the future," Söder remarked. On Monday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser plan to visit the flood zones and engage with emergency crews in the Upper Bavarian community of Reichertshofen. Climate change dictates an increase in extreme weather incidents.
Worsening conditions along the Danube anticipated
Bavaria's Environment Minister Thorsten Glauber predicted the high water situation along the Danube and in the broader Danube watershed would worsen at the start of the new week. "All those engaged are working with full dedication to fortify communities for the incoming high water wave," Glauber said.
"People will be evacuated to safety, sandbags will be filled, and high water defense facilities will be reinforced," Glauber added. The water management agency is mobilizing all available resources. Mobile high water defenses will be established at various points along the Danube. "To ease the pressure on the Danube's high water protection facilities, the water management administration is activating and filling existing storage and retention facilities along the tributaries," stated Glauber.
More ADAC air rescue helicopters deployed
The ADAC air rescue service is also preparing for a worsening scenario alongside the Danube. Currently, ten rescue helicopters are operational in Bavaria, four of which have winches. One of these helicopters, equipped with a winch, flew from the Augsburg Clinic to the flood zones on Sunday and rescued over a dozen people in its first hours. The second helicopter is based in Ingolstadt and can be used both there and in the surrounding area of Straubing, as a worsening is expected in these regions. The ADAC anticipates maintaining effort in response to the Bavarian floods until midweek.
Power outages in numerous districts
During the weekend, certain regions experienced blackouts. Economics Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Freie Wähler) stated, "The blackouts are mostly in areas near rivers and won't cause major problems for the network. The designated operators responsible for distribution are working to restore power by switching to different lines. We don't anticipate a widespread power shortage." In multiple locations, electricity was turned off prematurely. Due to this, many people could no longer send messages because their mobile phone battery was depleted.
