10:20 More train cancellations across multiple routes in southern Germany
As a result of the floods in certain areas of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, the German Railways (DB) are still experiencing difficulties running some local and long-distance railway lines. At present, four sections are impacted: the part 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 segment between Buchloe and Memmingen on the Munich-Memmingen-Lindau line, and the entire Ulm-Memmingen-Kempten line. To sum up, it's currently impossible to reach Munich from the western and northern regions. DB is continuing to discourage rail travel to southern Germany, warning of individual disruptions and delays on various lines like the 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, and Nuremberg-Würzburg.
10:06: Drones and helicopters used in search for missing firefighterThe search for a missing firefighter in the Swabia floods is ongoing, according to police reports - but not in the water at present. Rescue teams deem it too dangerous to search from the water due to the intense currents. The search will be carried out from land and in the air using drones and a helicopter. The firefighter, who is 22 years old, is presumed to have drowned. If this is true, he would be the fifth casualty of the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg (refer to entries at 09:38 am and 6:22 am). The firefighter was part of the DLRG water rescue team that capsized while responding to the floods in Offingen near the border with Baden-Württemberg. Luckily, four other rescuers, aged between 24 and 70, managed to reach the shore safely.
09:38: Police retract statement: Missing firefighter search continuesThe search for the missing firefighter in the Swabia floods is still in progress. The police have now corrected their previous statement about putting a halt to the search (see entry at 06:22 am). The 22-year-old is believed to have drowned. The firefighter was stationed with a team of five from the DLRG water rescue in Offingen near the boundary with Baden-Württemberg. Their boat overturned in strong currents during their operation. Four rescuers, aged between 24 and 70, managed to reach the shore unharmed.
08:45: Regensburg Mayor warns against flood tourismThe mayor of the flood-affected city of Regensburg, Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, is discouraging flood tourism. "We're already witnessing a surge in tourists, but now locals are also on the move. Please don't look around, just observe how it is," suggests Maltz-Schwarzfischer on Bavarian radio. She particularly urges visitors to steer clear of the bridges, because helpers could be operating in the area. The city on the Danube was facing a challenging situation for the mayor overnight. The increasing water level and the unstable subsoil were prompting evacuations. The peak of the flood wave is projected for the night, and she hopes that it will recede during the day.
08:25: Expected in the afternoon: Passau worried - "Danube level already at 9.54 meters"The situation in Passau, Bavaria, is encountering a particularly desperate turn. The city is predicted to reach its peak flood level of 9.50 meters in the afternoon; it is already significantly higher, as reported by ntv reporter Felix Balß.
07:48: Bavarian Fire Brigade Association: Unprecedented scale for deploymentThe situation in Bavaria is unprecedented, as indicated by the Bavarian Fire Brigade Association. The scale of their deployment is unmatched in the past.
The fire departments in Bavaria are experiencing an unprecedented demand for their services due to the flood, according to the Bavarian Fire Brigade Association. This hasn't happened before, says chairman Johann Eitzenberger to the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung". With a team of 30,000 volunteer firefighters, they're trying to prevent and minimize damage wherever possible. The current situation is relatively under control, but things could change quickly. Dealing with oil from heating tanks is just one skill that may be needed.
07:28 Video: Dams and protective walls in danger of breaking
The Danube is pushing against dams and additional protective walls in southern Germany with massive water masses. Some of these barriers are now in danger of collapsing. Passau's city center is already flooded and closed.
06:55 Castle ruins slide - Residents evacuated
Falkenstein Castle in Upper Bavaria is beginning to slide due to persistent rain. Over 50 residents have been evacuated below the castle, reports the Rosenheim district. Falkenstein Castle is a popular hiking destination. Construction began on the main castle in the 1300s and on the outer castle in the 15th and 16th centuries. After an expansion period in the 16th and 17th centuries, a fire destroyed the complex at the end of the 18th century. It's part of the Petersberg monument complex with the Roman St. Peter's Church and the nearby Mesner House. The extent of the damage to the ruins is unknown.
06:22 Search for missing firefighter stopped
A firefighter from Swabia is not being actively searched for anymore. It's likely he drowned, says a police spokesperson. He'll be found once the water recedes. The 22-year-old man had been on a boat from the DLRG lifesaving service in Offingen near the border with Baden-Württemberg the night before Sunday. Out of the five rescue workers on the boat, four were able to reach land unhurt.
Note: The police have since updated their statement, saying they will continue the search for the missing firefighter (see entry at 09:38 am).
06:03 Some regions measure "century-scale rainfall"
In some parts of South Germany, as much rain has fallen in the past few days as only every 50 to 100 years. This is according to meteorologist Thomas Deutschländer from the German Meteorological Service. "It's not something we see very often, but it's not completely unique," he says. They're still checking the accuracy of the data. "There might be a little more rain. Frankly, the current data underestimate the situation a bit."
05:33 Danube rises to 9.27 meters in Passau
The water level of the Danube in Passau has surpassed the nine-meter mark in the night to Tuesday. At 3 a.m., the flood warning service (HND) reported a water level of 9.27 meters. 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 with 9.50 meters. The Passau Old Town was closed to traffic on Monday for cars. Beaches start flooding more when the water level reaches 8.50 meters, which it did in Passau in the afternoon.
04:07 200 people must leave their homes in Regensburg
To deal with a worsening flood situation, 200 people in Regensburg must leave their homes. "Due to the increasingly unstable ground of Werftstraße due to the high groundwater level, there's an immediate danger that the flood protection elements will no longer hold," the Bavarian city announces on its website. As a result, rescue authorities have decided to evacuate the entire street.
02:47 The flood situation is easing slightly in Rosenheim district
The flood situation in the southern district of Rosenheim is beginning to improve slightly. The district reports this news. Schools and kindergartens in the affected communities are expected to remain closed on Tuesday. Evacuations have happened in Raubling and Rohrdorf. The number of people affected wasn't known initially. Originally, the district had declared a disaster situation. Around 1000 rescue workers from the fire department and the Technical Relief Service are at the scene. According to a message from the German Meteorological Service, the rainfall in Bavaria is expected to ease up in the night to Tuesday.
Amidst the nail-biting flood circumstances in southern Germany, Germany's Meteorological Service (DWD) has cancelled all weather alerts for the nation. The DWD made this announcement. Downpours over the past few days have considerably increased the water levels in various streams and rivers, especially in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, causing many villages to be submerged, even after dams broke. At least four individuals have tragically lost their lives in the floods so far. Tensions remained high in both Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg on a Monday.
12:01 Water levels are decreasing
The water levels in most bodies of water in the southwest are dropping again. Only in some sections of the large rivers like the Danube and Rhine are there still increasing water levels. However, there are no longer any dangerous readings expected to be surpassed, claims a spokesperson. In certain areas of the Danube, like Hundersingen in the district of Sigmaringen, as well as Lake Constance, the Upper and Lower Rhine, the water is currently still going up. At the gauge in Maxau near Karlsruhe, the peak value, which was 8.29 meters on Sunday, won't be surpassed again. The Neckar has a trending downward direction.
21:18 Landkreis Rosenheim: Population should remain indoors
The Landkreis Rosenheim in Upper Bavaria has advised citizens in view of the flood to stay at home. "There is an imminent threat to life and limb," states a communique from the district authority. People must avoid spending time outside, stay away from open water bodies, and not impede rescue teams in their duties. On Tuesday, schools will be shut down in a row of towns: Brannenburg, Raubling, Rohrdorf, Oberaudorf, Kiefersfelden, Nussdorf, Neubeuern, Bad Feilnbach, and Flintsbach. The Rosenheim State Education Authority will keep the affected schools informed. Preschools in the communities should also remain shut.
20:52 Landkreis Rosenheim: Sections of Burg Falkenstein have collapsed
In Flintsbach of the Rosenheim district, portions of Burg Falkenstein have crumbled due to the heavy rains. The Rosenheim Landratsamt attests to this. Aggrieved by this, 50 residents must now be relocated.
20:06 Germany's largest camping site must be cleared
The campground in Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia must be cleared in the following hours because of the flooding situation. The Grav Island operators declare this. The swelling water levels in the neighboring rivers and water bodies cause this. The Grav Island is the largest campground in Germany with 5000 permanent campers.
20:42 soil is saturated: Regensburg's Werftstraße is being vacated
The Werftstraße in Regensburg is being evacuated, as reported by the city of Regensburg. The street is adjacent to the Danube and the soil under the road is increasingly giving way due to the high groundwater level. The flood protection devices installed could fail, risking the street being flooded. About 200 people must leave from 9pm onwards.
All earlier developments can be found here. [Link]
