07:29 Flooding moving lower; level 4 reported in numerous locations.
In Bavaria, extreme flooding at the highest alert level 4 is occurring at different locations. Particular emphasis remains on the southern Donau tributaries of Günz, Mindel, Zusam, Schmutter, Paar, Abens, Ilm, and Amper, as well as the upper Danube, as indicated by the flood warning service. The peak water levels have already been reached during the night. The focus of the flood will shift towards the downstream regions, from Swabia to Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate. Potentially affected areas include Neuburg, Kelheim, Regensburg, and Straubing. Neuburg, Kelheim, and Regensburg will experience rising water levels, although it won't reach them until the beginning of next week. In addition, rising water levels are expected in the Mühlried region in the Schrobenhausen district, as well as Manching and Geisenfeld in Upper Bavaria.
The meteorological service anticipates more heavy rain in the south of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg on Sunday, according to their forecast. There's a chance of thunderstorms accompanied by heavy rain from noon until late Monday night. Flooded streets and cellars are likely to occur as a result. There's also a possibility of damage caused by lightning strikes.
The authorities in Augsburg's district are enhancing evacuation calls in the flooded areas. Residents of the communities of Kühlenthal and Allmannshofen are being urged to leave immediately, according to the Integrated Control Center early in the morning. Buses are provided for the inhabitants who can't evacuate on their own. In other parts of the district, people were also urged to leave their homes and apartments in the evening and at night. Communities along the Schmutter river, a tributary of the Danube, are primarily affected.
Wiesbaden officials are taking precautionary measures against rising water levels on the Rhine and Main. In the Kostheim district, a flood protection wall has been built, as the fire department reported early in the morning. In the Rhine-facing district of Schierstein, a pump has also been installed. The fire department recommends avoiding parking lots near the river in the coming days. No further measures are anticipated at this point.
Due to a landslide in the Baden-Württemberg town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, there's a suspension of long-distance train traffic between Stuttgart and Munich. The railway spokesperson doesn't have an estimate for when the line will reopen in the early morning. The landslide has blocked the bypass between Aalen and Stuttgart, and long-distance trains were required to take a detour due to the flooding in southern Germany.
Forces of the Technical Relief Organization (THW) in Ulm have been producing sandbags for the flooded and flood-threatened regions in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Approximately 30,000 sandbags were supposed to be distributed overnight. THW can currently fill 400 sandbags per hour. Numerous requests for the sandbags come from various deployment sites and neighboring regions in the bordering state. The continuous rain has led to significantly increased water levels in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria at several spots.
The Bavarian Red Cross is shipping water rescuers from Unterfranken to the aid operation in Swabia. The water rescue team will be deployed in the particularly impacted district of Günzburg, as announced by the Red Cross in the evening. Water rescue teams from across Unterfranken, consisting of two boat and diving teams, are specially trained for flood rescue operations. In the district of Günzburg, multiple bodies of water have reached the levels of a hundred-year flood, which means it occurs or exceeds the statistical average once in 100 years.
In Schwäbisch Gmünd, two wagons of an ICE with 185 passengers derailed in the evening due to a landslide. The passengers suffered no injuries and are now being evacuated from the train. According to a train spokesperson, the first two wagons left the tracks around 11:20 p.m., but didn't fully tip over. The landslide encompassed around 30 meters. The train passengers are expected to relocate to a nearby kindergarten and then be bused to Plüderhausen.
A landslide crashes into a car in the small town of Schwäbisch Gmünd, located approximately 50 kilometers east of Stuttgart. Fortunately, the car's driver remains unharmed. This incident occurred near a county road and a railway line simultaneously. Since last Friday, heavy rainfall has flooded various parts of Baden-Württemberg.
The city of Neu-Ulm has successfully survived the predicted "100-year flood" on the Danube and Iller rivers. Although water levels are high, Mayor Katrin Albsteiger states that the full extent of the potential damage is unknown until normalcy returns. Two streets, the Danube's embankments, and bike paths along the Danube and Iller are currently shut down.
In Munich, the Isar River Bank presents a potential danger due to the rising water levels. The Fire Department has cautioned about the hazard and closed two popular walking paths near the river. The Isar River has reached Alert Level 2, implying flooding on unbuilt lands or traffic disturbances caused by flooded roadways.
In Upper Bavaria's Schrobenhausen district, rescue services and firefighters are arranging for the evacuation of 670 people. Machines like excavators and boats are being employed, as well as a citizen hotline for emergencies, emphasized by the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district administration. The municipality previously reported a disaster situation. Upper Bavaria's District Administrator Peter von der Grün sees the southern area as posing the most significant concern.
In Eastern Thuringia, firefighters are responding to numerous incidents owing to heavy rain and thunderstorms. These incidents have resulted in flooded roads, fields, and soaked basements. The Gera District reports that a minor stream has exceeded its banks.
Although rainfall has slightly abated in Southern Germany, according to the German Weather Service (DWD), new showers and thunderstorms approaching from the north could result in additional local flooding on Sunday afternoon. "If this water hits the already saturated ground, it will cause flooding again," says a DWD meteorologist. The areas prone to these showers and thunderstorms include the Swabian Alb, regions slightly north of it, as well as Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.
The flood situation in Freising, a district in Upper Bavaria, has worsened, prompting a disaster declaration. The Amper and Glonn rivers face the threat of record-breaking water levels, reports the district's administration. Possible widespread flooding in Hohenkammer and other adjacent areas stands as a serious concern. Residents must act quickly and prepare for an imminent extreme situation by emptying their cellars, and ten Bavarian districts have declared disaster situations.
The Dillingen district in the Bavarian region of Swabia has declared a disaster situation due to unrelenting rainfall. The district's administration expresses concern over the Zusam river, which has seen its threat level intensify in the evening. The local crisis staff is requesting aid from the Bundeswehr. Experts anticipate a 100-year flood on the small river, which could impact the nearby towns of Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. The district administration is urging farmers to relocate their grazing animals to stables to protect them.
21:09 Eighth Bavarian area declares disaster status due to Surging Danube Rivers
The Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district joins the disaster situation list as the eighth Bavarian area; this action is taken because the Danube and its tributaries are rising, as per the Upper Bavarian community district's report. The Water Management Office in Ingolstadt predicts level 4 for the Neuburg gauge tonight. The situation is more severe in the Paar tributary and the Weilach, which in turn flows into the Paar. The Weilach has already overflowed its banks in the Schrobenhausen district and flooded a residential area. The emergency teams are preparing to evacuate residents, according to Landrat Peter von der Grün. The severe state of affairs is pronounced, particularly in the south of the district, where he highlights infrastructure protection as a top priority. "This will allow the fire brigade to remain active in rescue operations."
20:34 Emergency evacuation by helicopter: Red Cross saves two individuals in Babenhausen
The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has used a helicopter to save two people from the roof of their house in Babenhausen. They were in imminent danger as the water masses posed a risk to the house in the Unterallgäu district. Other people have been safely transported from their homes by inflatable boats. Over 100 people, including numerous children, have been rescued.
20:13 People in various locations nearby Augsburg are asked to leave their houses
Rescue teams have also freed individuals trapped in their vehicles due to the water masses. These situations can quickly become life-threatening, warns the BRK spokesman, as the water level rises inside the vehicles due to the current.
Raising alarm in several Augsburg district locations, people are requested to leave their homes and apartments due to the escalating flood scenario. The situation is forecast to worsen in the northern district area tonight. Affected regions include parts of Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the whole Nordendorf community. A temporary shelter has been established at the Augsburg fairgrounds by Swabian government.
19:48 Bundleswehr Helps Fight Flooding in Bavaria
Bundeswehr soldiers have joined the efforts to manage the flooding in Bavaria. "The Bundeswehr is supporting the two districts of Gunzburg and Aichach-Friedberg, with both districts having submitted formal requests," clarifies a spokesperson from the Bundeswehr in Bavaria to Antenne Bayern. "In Gunzburg, blankets and mattresses are being distributed. Around fifty Bundeswehr soldiers are soon to arrive in Aichach-Friedberg. Additionally, two Bundeswehr trucks are already operational there."
19:20 Faeser Promises Additional Aid
Federal Interior Minister, Nancy Faeser, vows to provide more support to the flood-ravaged regions in south Germany. "Due to the continuous heavy rain and impending flooding, the THW is mobilizing more resources," states the SPD politician in Berlin, relating to the Technical Relief Organization (THW) and its individuals. "We will continue to support the affected federal states with any available resources." Faeser states that as of Saturday evening, 520 THW personnel and helpers are at work. They have rescued individuals, reinforced dikes, and drained water. Faeser also praises all the volunteers in the process: "I would like to express my gratitude to all the helpers who are tirelessly engaged in saving lives." She advises people in the flooded areas of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to heed the warnings and guidelines issued by authorities. "Please take the warnings very seriously!"
18:58 29 stranded climbers at Zugspitze rescued by Mountain Rescue Service
The climbers who were in distress at the Zugspitze are now secured. A total of 29 climbers were escorted to the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin on the Zugspitzplatt by the mountain rescue service. The mountain rescue team received multiple emergency calls from different groups who could no longer proceed due to the worsening weather and fresh snowfalls, approximately 900 meters from the Sonnalpin at about 2500 meters above sea level. The mountain rescue service was responding to the situation, while the Zugspitzbahn was mobilizing additional assistance with snow groomers to locate the climbers.
18:42 Storm warning issued for some areas in Brandenburg
The German Meteorological Service (DWD) issues a warning for parts of Brandenburg regarding dangerous thunderstorms. The areas of Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree are under the second-highest threat level until evening, according to DWD. Lightning strikes, falling trees or power lines, falling objects, rapid road flooding, landslides, or hail are possible dangers.
18:11 Flooded motorway - A3 partially closed
On the A3 motorway in Bavaria near Regensburg, around ten kilometers of the road between exits Parsberg and Beratzhausen are closed in both directions due to flooding. The road's surface is submerged, police headquarters in Upper Palatinate confirm. The flooding is coming from the fields and has reached the motorway, a policeman explains. Police, Autobahnmeisterei, fire brigade, and police are on site to manage the situation and divert traffic.
17:51 Memmingen prison evacuated due to flooding
The prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, has been evacuated due to the flood risk. Information from the news agency Nonstopnews states that up to 150 inmates will be temporarily relocated to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. The Memminger Ach, a small river in front of the prison, is now a raging torrent threatening to flood the JVA. Parts of the courtyard are already submerged, which could lead to a power outage. The prison management opted for an evacuation. Emergency vehicles from the police are present at the scene, with the fire department using pumps to clear the water from the facility. Evacuation efforts consisted of guiding inmates through flooded streets.
17:35 Rain causes rivers to rise in several locations
The persistent rain has caused several gauges in Swabia to reach level 4, indicating a flood. Rivers in Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate are also swelling. The Hochwassernachrichtendienst (HND) reports that gauges in Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), and Nattenhausen (Guenz) have already reached level 4. In Dasing (Paar), level 4 is expected to be met. The same applies to the Regen river in Cham, Upper Palatinate. Centennial floods are likely in Nattenhausen (Guenz) and Dasing (Paar), according to HND.
The Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) is expected to peak at Meldestufe 3 on Saturday to Sunday, with levels already declining below Meldestufe 3 in the lower Iller. In the north Donauzuflusse of Woernitz, Sulzach, Altmuhl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab, individual gauges have Meldestufen 1 and 2 overflows with an increasing trend. The water levels are expected to rise to Meldestufe 3 in Neu-Ulm to Kelheim, with Pegel Kelheim to follow at night. In the further Donauabschnitt to Passau, an increase to Meldestufen 1 and 2 is expected.
17:23 Operations at Munich Airport proceed normally despite rain
Despite rain affecting many areas in Bavaria, normal operations continue at Munich Airport. No flights were canceled. The airport spokesman Robert Wilhelm tells BR that they see water standing in the meadows beside the runways, explaining that the airport was also built slightly higher. The runways slope downwards to the sides, allowing water to escape. "Grooved" runways - with grooves that accelerate water drainage - also help to minimize any risks of aquaplaning, Wilhelm said. No critical issues are expected for the rest of the weekend.
17:07 Söder "Things are truly heating up now"
Bavarian minister-president Markus Söder examines the impacted areas firsthand, expressing gratitude to the helpers and officials in nearby Diedorf, Augsburg district. "Bavaria is crisis-prepared," Mr. Söder states in the presence of state interior minister Joachim Herrmann. Citizens face an "extraordinarily difficult situation," he notes. "This isn't over yet. It's getting serious now," he says. In response to the crisis, resources such as sandbags are being gathered in Swabia. "Without the helpers and rescuers, we wouldn't have made it," Söder remarks, having special praise for the fire department, Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization who have all demonstrated remarkable commitment. He asks citizens to follow instructions, emphasizing the importance of obeying evacuation orders and not attempting to leave basements or drive vehicles out of garages.
The recent storms and heavy rainfalls in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have met with significant disruptions in the train traffic. As reported by Deutsche Bahn, South Germany is experiencing cancellations and distractions, with two ICE lines being particularly impacted. No trains will be available between Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich on Saturday due to flooding, while a similar situation occurred between Ulm and Augsburg. The railroad company has been updating their website with further information on disruptions, cancellations, and delays.
In the town of Babenhausen, a disaster situation has been declared in Unterallgäu. Part of the mobile network failed, leaving residents unable to make emergency calls. A spokesperson recommended hanging a white sheet or cloth outside of residences to signal for help. Babenhausen's authorities have been using inflatable boats to rescue those stuck in their homes.
Over 400 forces from the Technical Relief Organization (THW) are working across South Germany to battle the floods. The Bonn-based THW reported their efforts, which include pumping water out, diking security, and pre-evacuating people as a precaution. The THW has prepared to deploy additional forces, installing mobile flood gauges and monitoring them.
For easier reference, a map has been made available for flood warnings. This map is updated frequently: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Z7Ih6z2zP-q3Zyj0wTbF-9Qvn40-F5xq8eJl653HNB09y6-&ll=48.026372999999994%2C10.200000000000001&z=8.
A 26-person mountain climbing group is reportedly stranded several hundred meters below the summit of Zugspitze. The recent accumulation of 60 centimeters of snow, coupled with rainfall and low visibility, has made climbing conditions dangerous. Rescue teams have been deployed, while it's uncertain why the group continued climbing despite the disastrous weather forecast.
Donau-Ries District in Bavaria has declared a disaster emergency. The district administrator, Stefan Roßle, explained the purpose: "This measure brings all forces together and helps us prepare more quickly and efficiently for the expected water levels." Residents are encouraged to avoid low-lying areas and remain calm.
A dike and a dam have broken nearby Augsburg. Residents in certain streets in Diedorf need to evacuate their homes immediately, as emergency crews are preparing for evacuation in the Anhausen district. Chartered evacuees are requested to travel to the Diedorf Schmuttertalhalle. Avoiding railway underpasses is also advised, as floods could flow there. The situation is critical in Swabia, as the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have declared disaster emergencies. Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann are now travelling to the flood-hit region of Diedorf. The long-planned visit to Fischach has been postponed, as the situation in Diedorf is more urgent. District Administrator Martin Sailer will be accompanying the two CSU politicians.
(Note: this is a paraphrased version of the provided text)
The flood pressure in Meckenbeuren remains an issue. The Schussen river in Meckenbeuren, within the Bodenseekreis district, continues to rise higher. Officials from the town recently announced that the river level reached 4.72 meters. It's hoped that the peak will occur shortly. Compared to the flood in 2021, the river only reached 4.50 meters back then. Typically, the river has a mere 45 centimeters of water. Late on Friday, the municipality recommended, with caution, that approximately 1300 people depart their homes. The majority of them went to crash with pals or family members. A minuscule number of individuals turned to the emergency shelter. To forestall possible harm ensuing from the rising water, schools, kindergartens, and halls were emptied out early. This city with a denizen population of 14,000 witnessed the preemptive closure of bridges.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Z7Ih6z2zP-q3Zyj0wTbF-9Qvn40-F5xq8eJl653HNB09y6-&ll=48.026372999999994%2C10.200000000000001&z=8
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The Live ticker is continuously updating the flood situation in Bavaria, with level 4 reported in numerous locations. International media outlets are closely following the reporting level, as it indicates extreme flooding in different parts of the region. Despite efforts from authorities and relief organizations, the flood situation is expected to worsen as more heavy rain and thunderstorms approach.
