Urgent Situations - Authorities confirm a fifth casualty associated with extreme rainfall.
Five people have now lost their lives due to the flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, with a woman from Markt Rettenbach, Bavaria, being the latest victim. Police revealed on Tuesday that the woman's car had slipped off the road into the water on Monday, leading to her death. Upon finding the car, it was reported to be "almost completely" submerged by authorities.
The woman, who was thought to be driving on a flooded state road, had ignored a barrier and accidentally drove her car into a flooded area of the road. The water levels were so high that her car was immediately surrounded by water.
The woman had called for assistance on her cell phone, informing rescue teams that her car was filled with water. However, by the time an employee from the water management office discovered the car, it was already almost completely submerged. Investigators have assumed this incident was a "tragic accident."
Prior to this, authorities had confirmed four casualties caused by the flooding. In Schrobenhausen, Upper Bavaria, a 43-year-old woman had tragically passed away over the weekend in the cellar of a flooded house. On Sunday morning, a firefighter was found dead in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Bavaria, while participating in a rescue operation. Meanwhile, another firefighter in Swabia remained missing on Tuesday. In Baden-Württemberg, rescuers found two bodies in an empty pumped cellar in Schorndorf from the particularly affected district of Rems-Murr on Monday. These individuals were identified as a 58-year-old homeowner and his 84-year-old mother.
Read also:
- Despite the ongoing weather disturbance in Germany, many women like Julia from Munich are determined to commute in their cars daily.
- The floodwaters in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have caused widespread destruction, with countless cars submerged and roads blocked.
- Authorities in Bavaria have urged residents to remain vigilant during the storm, warning of possible emergencies like car accidents and flooding.
- In response to the rising number of flood-related deaths, the German Red Cross has deployed additional volunteers to assist in rescue operations and provide support to affected families.
- To mitigate the risk of car accidents during extreme rainfall, German traffic authorities advise motorists to slow down, keep a safe distance from other vehicles, and avoid driving through flooded areas at all costs.
- The Bavarian Police have reported increased patrols in flood-prone areas to ensure safety and prevent looting, as well as to provide assistance in case of emergencies like car accidents and flood-related incidents.
