Before the announcement of alert level three, the Elbe's sea levels persistently ascend at 10:10.
Elbe Flooding in Saxony Worsens, Pegelstands IncreaseThe flooding on the Elbe in Saxony is getting worse, with pegelstands rising further. As per data from the state flood center, the value in Dresden was at 5.54 meters this morning. Experts predict that the six-meter mark will be surpassed during the day. Once this value is exceeded, the second-highest alarm stage three applies, making flooding of built-up areas possible. At the gauge in Schöna on the Elbe near the Czech border, this stage has already been reached, with the water level at 6.09 meters. Alarm stage three also applies to the Lusatian Neiße near Görlitz on the border with Poland, where the water stood at 5.56 meters, just a few centimeters away from the highest alarm stage four. As a result, a section of the federal highway 99 in Görlitz has been closed for safety reasons, according to a police spokesperson. The warning level for stage three here is 4.80 meters.
First Death From Flooding in Czech Republic: 7 MissingThere has been the first reported death from flooding in the Czech Republic. Authorities are also reporting at least seven missing individuals. A person drowned in the small river Krasovka in the district of Bruntal in the eastern part of Moravia-Silesia, according to police president Martin Vondrasek on public radio. This includes three people who, with a car, fell into a raging river near Jesenik in the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. There is no trace of the vehicle. The other persons fell into various waterways such as the Otava river. A man from an old people's home on the border with Poland is also missing. Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala refers to this as a so-called century flood - a flood that statistically occurs once in a century in the same location. Previously, deaths from flooding had been reported from other EU countries (see entry 06:40): a firefighter died in Austria, a man in Poland, and six people in Romania.
Woman Rescued After Falling into Neiße in GörlitzA woman was rescued after she fell into the Neiße in Görlitz. According to initial police reports, the woman slipped at the edge of the water near the Parkhotel Merkur and fell into the river. She was carried about 700 meters in the Neiße before she could pull herself out near the Vierradmuhle weir. She is currently being treated in a clinic for hypothermia.
THW Readies for Major Operations on Elbe and OderThe Technical Relief Agency (THW) is preparing for potential flooding in eastern Germany. "We're preparing to move larger forces to the Elbe and the Oder," says THW department head Fritz-Helge Voss in the ZDF "Morning Magazine". He advises people in affected areas to stock up on a "small emergency supply". Voss says Germany has been "lucky" so far but is still waiting for the appropriate extreme weather situation. However, the Elbe, Neiße, and Oder rivers are expected to flood in the coming days. Over the weekend, the THW had already deployed around 140 personnel in Bavaria and Saxony, including at the collapsed Carolabridge in Dresden. The THW department head points out that this is already the fourth major flooding situation in Germany this year. He says it is "necessary" to be prepared and invest in equipment. "Ultimately, these are climate adaptation costs," says Voss.
Polish Cabinet to Discuss State of Disaster Due to FloodingPrime Minister Donald Tusk has convened his cabinet for an emergency meeting due to severe flooding in southwestern Poland. He has prepared a decree declaring a state of disaster, but the cabinet must approve it. Persistent rainfall in southwestern Poland, near the Czech border, has caused significant flooding. Overnight, the town of Nysa in the Opole region was particularly affected. Water from the Glatzer Neiße, a tributary of the Oder, entered the emergency room of the local hospital, as reported by the news agency PAP. A total of 33 patients, including children and pregnant women, were evacuated by boat.
Flooding Situation in Bavaria: More Rain and Rising Water Levels ExpectedThe flood situation in Bavaria remains tense in some areas, with more rain forecast. The situation has not significantly changed overnight in affected areas, police headquarters report. There is no all-clear yet, as the Hochwasser-Nachrichtendienst (HND) expects water levels to rise again with the rainy start to the week. The HND anticipates that water levels in the Danube at Passau, the Vils at Vilshofen, and the Isar at Munich will rise again. The situation should gradually ease from Wednesday, according to the German Weather Service (DWD), which predicts continuous rain from the Alps to the foreland until Tuesday, with possible rainfall totals of 40 to 70 liters per square meter, and up to 90 liters in valley locations.
07:32 Czech Republic: No Respite – Water Levels Persistently RiseThe flooded and waterlogged regions in the Czech Republic exhibit no signs of alleviation. The flood surge on the Morava (March) river reached Litovel, approximately 200 kilometers east of Prague, as per the CTK news agency. Entire streets were submerged in Litovel, a town inhabited by nearly 10,000 people. The town's authorities implore the populace to refrain from obstructing the emergency services. Warns the mayor via social media, "We anticipate a further augmentation in the river's water level in the coming hours."
07:03 Dam Rupture: Devastating Floods in PolandMounting concerns in Poland post a dam rupture, as catastrophic floods advance towards the Glatzer Neiße area. Videos capture the ferocity of the surging floodwaters.
06:40 Floods in Europe: Mortalities in Poland and RomaniaEurope is grappling with the aftermath of a century-old flooding, and the situation in Lower Austria is also delicate following heavy precipitation. Multiple casualties have been reported due to flooding across various EU countries: a firefighter in Austria, a man in Poland, and six individuals in Romania.
06:12 Evacuations Instigated by Flooding in Czech RepublicHistorically severe storms led to an inundation of entire towns such as Jeseník in the Jeseníky Mountains and Krnov on the Polish border over the weekend. In Jeseník, rescue services had to save hundreds of individuals via boats and helicopters. Upon the floodwaters receding, the risk of landslides remains in numerous locales.
05:49 Passengers Imprisoned on Cruise Ship in Vienna
Heavy rain-induced flooding on the Danube has stranded dozens of cruise ship passengers on a Swiss river vessel in Vienna. Approximately 100 passengers and about 40 crew members are presently unable to disembark from the "Thurgau Prestige," which is anchored to the shore. Media reports indicate that the gangway to the pier is flooded, preventing passenger disembarkation. Thurgau Travel stated that the decision regarding passenger disembarkation will be made by local authorities. Passengers have been informed that they may have to remain aboard until at least Tuesday, as reported by Swiss broadcaster SRF. The "Thurgau Prestige" was scheduled to journey from Linz to Budapest and back, but is presently stationed in Vienna.
While storm "Anett," internationally known as "Boris," has drenched Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Romania, causing at least eight fatalities.
The Commission is closely monitoring the flooding situation in Europe, with multiple countries affected by the heavy rain and resulting floods. In response, the European Union's Civil Protection Mechanism has been activated, providing assistance and coordination to the affected nations.
Given that the Elbe Flooding in Saxony has reached alarm stage three in Schöna and the Lusatian Neiße near Görlitz, The Commission has dispatched emergency response teams from the European Emergency Response Coordination Centre to support the local authorities in managing the situation.
