Train and car struck by landslide in Baden-Württemberg at 08:47.

08:47 Train and car struck by landslide in Baden-Württemberg

The flooding in certain parts of Germany is causing growing concerns. The south of the country is particularly severe, even leading to a possible century-flood in eastern Baden-Württemberg. Emergency responders and volunteers are feeling the strain.

8:30: ICE Train Rescue Expected SoonAn ICE train that got stuck in a landslide in Baden-Württemberg's Schwaebisch Gmuend is said to be rescued in the morning. The local train can't pass through that section of the track, a spokesperson says. A rescue locomotive is being used to assist with the operation. However, it's unclear how long this closure might last. At least, the regional train has made it through the landslide. On Saturday evening, a portion of an ICE train carrying 185 passengers derailed due to a landslide.

8:16: Individual Missing in SchrobenhausenThere's been a report of someone missing in Schrobenhausen. According to a spokesperson from the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district office, this person was in the cellar of a home when the flood arrived. The cellar and some parts of the upper floor are now submerged in water. The rescue teams can't access the property right now.

7:44: Firefighter Perishes in Pfaffenhofen an der IlmA firefighter has died in Upper Bavaria's Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm. He and his three colleagues were in a fire boat when it capsized, with the firefighter being found dead the next morning.

7:29: More Level 4 Warnings in BavariaThere are further Level 4 warnings for flooding in Bavaria at several monitoring stations. The focus is still on the southern Danube tributaries including Gunz, Mindel, Zusam, Schmutter, Paar, Abens, Ilm, and Amper, as well as the upper Danube. Peaks have already been reached across these locations. With the wave, the focus will move downstream - from Swabia towards Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate. Possible locations impacted include Neuburg, Kelheim, Regensburg, Straubing. However, the main wave is expected to arrive in these places early in the week. Additional rising water levels are predicted in Mühlried in the Schrobenhausen district, as well as in Manching and Geisenfeld in the Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm district, and Abensberg within the Kelheim district.

6:54: Meteorologists Anticipate More Downpours in the SouthThe German Weather Service (DWD) forecast predicts more rainstorms with heavy rain in large parts of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg on Sunday. From noon on Sunday until late Monday night, there's a risk for flooding roads and cellars. There's also a chance of damage from lightning strikes.

05:39: Augsburg Announces Additional Evacuation OrdersIn the flooding region of Augsburg's Bavarian district, authorities have been calling for more evacuations. The residents of Kühlenthal and Allmannshofen are asked to leave their homes immediately. Buses are provided to assist those who can't leave their properties. In other spots across the district, evacuation notices were issued in the evening and through the night. Most communities affected are along the Schmutter River, an offshoot of the Danube.

05:05: Wiesbaden Prepares for Increasing Water LevelsAuthorities in Wiesbaden are taking measures against expected rising water levels on the Rhine and Main. In the Kostheim district, a flood barrier has been erected. A pump has also been installed in the Schierstein district that faces the Rhine. To avoid potential danger, parking lots near the river should be avoided in the coming days. Currently, there's no expectation for further actions to be taken.

04:04: Train Traffic Between Stuttgart and Munich SuspendedA landslide in the town of Schwäbisch Gmünd in Baden-Württemberg has led to a halt in long-distance train traffic between Stuttgart and Munich. A railway representative isn't sure when the line will reopen. The landslide has blocked the bypass between Aalen and Stuttgart, which had already suspended long-distance trains between Ulm and Augsburg due to the flooding.

03:13: THW in Ulm Fills 30,000 SandbagsThe Technical Relief Organization in Ulm filled thousands of sandbags to address flood-prone and flood-threatened areas in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria overnight. 30,000 sandbags are to be transported by Sunday morning. "We can currently fill 400 sandbags an hour," said Bernd Urban, head of the THW logistics center. Requests are coming from various emergency areas and bordering regions. The continuous rainfall has resulted in elevated water levels at multiple locations in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.

02:25 Red Cross Sends Water Rescuers to Gunzburg

The Bavarian Red Cross is deploying water rescuers from Unterfranken to aids missions in Swabia. They are expected to be stationed in the severely affected district of Gunzburg, according to the Red Cross's evening report. Water rescue teams throughout Unterfranken are specially trained for flood rescue operations, including two boat and diving squads. In the Swabian region of Gunzburg, several bodies of water are at levels seen in a hundred-year flood. This is a flood that statistically gets reached or surpassed every 100 years.

01:27 Schwäbisch Gmünd: ICE Wagons Derail Because of Landslide

Two cars of an ICE train carrying 185 passengers derailed in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, due to a landslide in the late evening. The passengers emerged unscathed, as relayed by the railway official, and are now being evacuated from the train. The spokesman stated that the first two wagons left the tracks at around 23:20 but did not tip over. The landslide spanned about 30 meters. The train travellers are expected to take respite at a nearby daycare and then travel to Plüderhausen using buses.

00:59 Car Hit by Landslide in Schwäbisch Gmünd

A landslide struck a vehicle in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg, as reported by initial police reports in the night. The driver of the car escaped injury. The landslide transpired at a site where the affected road and the railway line coexist. Schwäbisch Gmünd is situated around 50 kilometers northeast of Stuttgart. There has been heavy rainfall in Baden-Württemberg since Friday.

00:14 Neu-Ulm Surpasses High Water Mark - Extent of Damage Unknown

The city of Neu-Ulm has reportedly overcome the high water mark on the Danube and Iller rivers, as per a city administration evaluation. Yet, the dreaded 100-year flood did not materialize. "It's still unclear how much harm it's going to cause," underscored Mayor Katrin Albsteiger in the evening. The Donau and Iller riverbanks, as well as the bike ways along the Danube and Iller, will remain shut permanently.

23:44 Munich: Danger Near Isar River Bank

The Munich Fire Department is issuing a warning for danger at the Isar River Bank due to mountainous water levels. Additionally, two widely used recreational paths alongside the Isar River are closed. The river has reached Meldestufe 2, implying flooding on non-structured areas or minor disturbances to traffic on streets.

23:23 Upper Bavaria: 670 People to be Rescued from Schrobenhausen

Firefighters and salvage crew are prepping to evacuate 670 residents from the Upper Bavarian city of Schrobenhausen. In the Mühlried district and a street close to the Weilach River, excavators and inflatables are in use, discloses the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen administrative body. The administration has also instated a citizens' emergency hotline. The area is now under a state of emergency. "The situation is especially worrisome in the southern section of the Upper Bavarian region," asserted District Administrator Peter von der Grün.

23:03 Frequent Fire Department Interventions in Eastern Thüringen

Heavy rain and lightning storms have resulted in many fire department responses in Eastern Thüringen. The Gera command center divulges. The region in and around Ronneburg in the Greiz district experiences flooded streets, fields, and overflowing basements.

22:45 Sustained Rainfall in the South is Relaxing - No Respite

The German Meteorological Service (DWD) reports that there is some abatement in the precipitation in the afflicted or endangered spots in southern Germany. A DWD meteorologist remarks, "It won't see the hefty rainfall amounts we had last night." Nonetheless, fresh showers and thunderstorms from the north might pose a new risk of local flooding mid-afternoon on Sunday. These showers might be very potent and persistent. "If they hit the already saturated ground, then there will be flooding again," the meteorologist noted. The areas vulnerable to the showers and thunderstorms on Sunday include the Swabian Albs, in addition to regions surrounding Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.

22:25 Disaster State Also in Freising

The Freising district has also declared a disaster state due to rivers and streams exceeding their banks. The district executive revealed that extreme water levels are projected for the Amper and Glonn rivers. The administration has this suspicion of extensive flooding in the town of Hohenkammer as well as all settlements along the Amper. Citizens are urged to prepare beforehand for such scenarios and even empty their basements. Ten Bavarian districts have proclaimed a disaster situation now.

9:50 Dillingen district now in a state of emergency

Heavy rainfall has led to a state of emergency being declared in the Dillingen district of southern Bavaria. The situation worsened on the Zusam, a tributary of the Danube, according to the district's emergency response team. The Bundeswehr has been called in for assistance, with experts expecting a 100-year flood on the river. This could impact nearby towns like Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. Meanwhile, officials are preparing to release water from the swollen Danube into the Riedstrom, a former floodplain. The district authorities are urging farmers to keep their livestock in secure stables.

9:09 Eighth Bavarian district declares emergency situation

The district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen has become the eighth in Bavaria to declare a state of emergency due to the rising River Danube and its tributaries. The Upper Bavarian district's administration cites the threat to local infrastructure as their reason for doing so. The water management office in Ingolstadt anticipates a level 4 alert at the Neuburg gauge by nightfall. The situation is even more severe at the Paar and Weilach tributaries, with the former already flooding in Schrobenhausen's Muhlried district. Residents in the affected areas are being evacuated, according to district administrator Peter von der Gruen.

18:34 Red Cross saves lives with helicopter

The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has airlifted two people from the roof of their home in Babenhausen. A BRK spokesman reported that the individuals were in great danger as their house was about to collapse due to the overwhelming water masses. Elsewhere, residents were saved with inflatable boats. The BRK confirmed that more than 100 people, including numerous children, have been evacuated to safety.

18:13 Drivers rescued from submerged cars

Water rescuers had to free people trapped in their vehicles after they could not open their doors due to the rising water levels. According to the spokesman, these situations can rapidly become fatal due to the current.

In various Augsburg district municipalities, citizens have been asked to leave their homes and apartments as a precaution against potential flooding. A spokeswoman for the Augsburg district administration said the situation would deteriorate in the evening, impacting the municipalities of Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the entire municipality of Nordendorf. The Swabian government set up a temporary shelter at the Augsburg fairground.

17:48 Bundeswehr steps in to help with the flood crisis

Bundeswehr soldiers are assisting in the fight against the floods in Bavaria. "The Bundeswehr is supporting the Gunzburg and Aichach-Friedberg districts, who have both filed official requests," a Bavarian Army Command spokeswoman told radio station Antenne Bayern. "In the vicinity of Gunzburg, blankets and mattresses are being distributed. In the Aichach-Friedberg district, about 50 female and male Bundeswehr soldiers are expected to arrive in the coming hours. Additionally, two trucks of the Bundeswehr are being used."

17:20 Faeser secures more support

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser ensures additional assistance for the regions in southern Germany experiencing floods. Speaking in Berlin, she mentioned the technical relief organization (THW) forces as being prepared to deploy more helpers. Faeser stated that 520 female and male THW helpers were already working, rescuing people, securing dikes, and removing water. She also praised the efforts of volunteers: "I would like to thank all the volunteers who are currently battling the water masses and working tirelessly to save human lives." Faeser urged residents in flood-affected regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to follow the instructions of local authorities: "Take these warnings seriously."

5:58 p.m.: 29 climbers rescued at Zugspitze

The climbers in distress at the Zugspitze, mentioned in the Live Ticker update at 3:15 p.m., have now been saved. The rescue team guided the 29 climbers to the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin at Zugspitzplatt. Different groups made distress calls while they were stranded at about 2,500 meters above sea level, around 900 meters before the Sonnalpin, unable to continue due to bad weather and new snow. The rescue service was immediately called, and the Zugspitzbahn employees were also on their way with snow groomers to help search for the climbers.

5:42 p.m.: Severe storm warning for parts of Brandenburg

The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of Brandenburg. For the districts of Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree, the second highest warning level is in place until evening. There's a possibility of lightning strikes, uprooted trees or power lines, falling objects, rapid flooding of roads, landslides, and hail.

5:11 p.m.: Flooded A3 motorway partially closed

The A3 motorway in Bavaria near Regensburg is partially closed for roughly 10 kilometers between the interchanges of Parsberg and Beratzhausen. The road surface is flooded, reports the police station in Upper Palatinate. According to the traffic police in Regensburg, "water is pressing from the fields onto the motorway." Employees of the Zugspitzbahn are also on their way to assist with the search for stranded motorists. Traffic is being diverted.

5:51 p.m.: Prison in Memmingen evacuated due to flooding

Due to the impending flooding danger, the prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, is being evacuated. Up to 150 inmates will be temporarily relocated to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. The prison is threatened by the Memminger Ach - a small river that has now transformed into a raging stream and is threatening to flood the prison. Parts of the courtyard are already flooded. This could lead to a power outage and forced the prison management to make the decision to evacuate the facility. Emergency vehicles from the police, fire department, and Autobahnmeisterei were present at the scene to facilitate the evacuation. The evacuation had to be conducted while navigating through flooded streets, as the main approach had become submerged. The fire department was also supporting the operation with pumps to remove the water from the prison.

5:35 p.m.: Heavy rain causing level 4 to rise in Swabia

The persistent rain is causing various gauges in Swabia to hit level 4, indicating a flood. In Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate, rivers are swelling increasingly. The gauges in Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), as reported by the flood warning service (HND), have reached level 4. The Regen in Cham, Upper Palatinate, is also at level 4. Centennial floods are indicated by the gauges in Nattenhausen (Günz) and Dasing (Paar).

The Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) is predicted to reach its peak in Meldestufe 3 from Saturday to Sunday, while the water levels in the lower Iller are already receding. In the northern Donau tributaries Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmühl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab, some gauges are exceeding levels 1 and 2, showing an increasing trend in the upper sections. From Neu-Ulm to Kelheim, water levels are expected to reach Meldestufe 3 throughout the day, with the Pegel Kelheim following at night. In the further Donau section to Passau, increases to Meldestufen 1 and 2 are to be expected.

5:23 p.m.: Business as usual at Munich Airport despite heavy rain

Despite the heavy rain in many areas of Bavaria, flight operations at Munich Airport are continuing normally. No flights have been canceled. There are several reasons for this. "We see water standing in the meadows near the runways," explained airport spokesman Robert Wilhelm to BR. The airport was built slightly higher. Additionally, the runways are sunken towards the sides, which allows water to drain. The runways are also "grooved," featuring grooves that accelerate water drainage. There is currently no risk of aquaplaning, as Wilhelm shared with Bavarian broadcasters. The airport does not expect any major setbacks for the rest of the weekend.

5:07 p.m.: Soder: "Now things are really getting started"

Minister President Markus Soder views the intensifying crisis in Swabia, a region heavily impacted by recent floods. He expresses his gratitude to volunteers and officials in Diedorf, one of the districts in Augsburg. Soder emphasizes that Bavaria has faced numerous challenges, and the situation remains a difficult burden for many citizens. He highlights the significance of the ongoing situation, stating, "This is not over yet; things are truly beginning now." With the focus on Swabia, resources, such as sandbags, are being directed toward the region. Soder praises the rescue services, reiterating that "without the helpers, we'd have no chance." He urges the rescue services, including the fire department, Bavarian Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization, for their admirable commitment. Looking to the people, he advises, "Please follow the rules." Evacuation orders should be obeyed rather than seeking safety in cellars or attempting to drive automobiles out of garages.

Around 16:35, train service has halted in South Germany due to ongoing storms and flooding. Deutsche Bahn informs of disruptions and cancellations, especially in two ICE lines, with train service between Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich ceasing for the day. Trains on the Ulm to Augsburg line are also affected. With more information about discontinued rails, cancellations, and delays posted on its website, DLR updates its site.

The disaster situation has been implemented in Unterallgäu as well. In the town of Babenhausen, part of the mobile network is defunct. Residents in dire need unable to contact emergency responders should display a white cloth or sheet in their windows. In this town, residents are being transported to safety with inflatable boats.

More than 400 members of the Technical Relief Organization (THW) in South Germany are engaged in resolving flood issues. They are busy pumping water, securing dams, and evacuating people in a proactive manner. Preparations for additional THW forces are in place given the persistent rain and forecasted floods. Each group of 40 THW staff can pump up to 30,000 liters of water per minute.

A comprehensive map shows all current flood warnings.

A group of 26 climbers find themselves stranded a few hundred meters below the peak of the Zugspitze due to the approaching storm. Heavy snow has fallen at this location, while rain continues to pour in the valley. Temperatures are below freezing, with visibility limited to about 100 meters. Rescue teams are dispatched to search for the climbers amidst the blizzard, as reported by BR, who cited Garmisch-Partenkirchen Mountain Rescue Service. The climbers are weary and likely not adequately equipped. The reason for attempting to scale the Zugspitze under these treacherous circumstances is unknown.

The Donau-Ries District in Bavaria declares a disaster situation, aiming to mobilize resources for imminent water levels. District Administrator Stefan Roßle explains, "This measure intends to bring all forces together and help us prepare more quickly and efficaciously for the anticipated water levels." To ensure safety, residents are encouraged to avoid low-lying areas for the meantime.

In the district of Augsburg, a dam and a dike have overcome, and residents in particular streets of Diedorf, including Anhausen, must leave their homes. An evacuation is being prepared for the Anhausen area. The district administration instructs Diedorf residents to depart their residences immediately and move to the Diedorf Schmuttertalhalle. Moreover, people should avoid train underpasses, as potential floodwaters could accumulate in these areas.

Markus Söder, Bavaria's Minister President, and Joachim Herrmann, the Interior Minister, are heading to the flood-stricken region of Augsburg on Saturday. They're going to assess the shoddy state of affairs in Diedorf, where the Interior Ministry informed the public. Martin Sailer, their District Administrator, will accompany them. The unforeseen district's plan initially involved a focus on Fischach, the previously perceived plight-area. However, situation-sensitivity prompted the relocation to Diedorf, where evacuations for residents are underway. Meckenbeuren locals grappling with a volatile situation are especially concerned. Following the calamities in Günzburg, districts in Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have now declared disaster states.

Meckenbeuren's flood situation is getting edgier. The Schussen river in Meckenbeuren, Bodenseekreis, is swelling further by the minute. A serviceman announced during the afternoon that the river reached a horrific 4.72 meters. When last it flooded in 2021, the level hovered around 4.50 meters. During ordinary circumstances, the river flows with a mere 45 centimeters' depth. On Friday eve, the authorities cautioned approximately 1300 citizens to vacate their homes. Of these residents, an overwhelming majority relocated to stay with friends or relatives, while a meager crowd hunkered down at shelters. To safeguard locations from flooding, schools, daycares, and other facilities were cleared in advance. Authorities also closed bridges preemptively. This district of 14,000 inhabitants now frets over 1300 evacuated people.