Century-level flooding looms over the Saar.
Torrential rain has flooded Saarland, with the Saar River reaching unprecedented levels. Other parts of Germany are also at risk of flooding.
After several hours of heavy rain, the flood warning center in Saarland has issued a high flood warning. This is a flood that occurs only once every 50-100 years, which might lead to the flooding of built-up areas and agricultural and forest land.
The city of Saarbrücken declared a state of emergency in the afternoon due to the flooding threat. Multiple buildings in the city center had to be evacuated and residents were advised to only take essential items. The citizens were also urged to stay indoors and avoid flooded areas or sections of traffic routes. Saarland's Interior Minister Reinhold Jost described the situation as very tense.
The Saarbrücken state police headquarters stated that no major incidents have been reported yet, but they could not issue an all-clear. A spokesperson mentioned that they stopped counting after 300 operations related to flooded roads, flooded basements, and fallen trees. No injuries or missing people have been reported. Numerous roads in Saarland were closed due to the weather conditions, causing disruptions to train and bus services.
Chancellor Scholz visits the flood zone
Heavy rainfall over the past few days has caused flooding in the west and southwest of Germany. On the French side of the border, cellars filled up and several roads were closed. The German meteorological service predicts continuous rain until Saturday evening, especially in the areas west of the Rhine. After that, the rain is expected to gradually decrease.
The flood forecasting center in Rhineland-Palatinate reported sharply rising water levels in the southern part of the state on Friday, with some locations experiencing water levels that occur statistically every 100 years. No reported heights have been breached on the Rhine. Water levels are expected to decrease again from Saturday afternoon.
In Baden-Württemberg, it rained continuously and there were heavy thunderstorms in some areas. The feared weather chaos did not occur on Friday night, with only a few accidents reported.
The Baden-Württemberg flood forecasting center warned of rapidly rising water levels in some rivers, particularly the Upper Rhine tributaries and waters in the Neckar catchment area. Minor floods could develop and the sewage system might be overwhelmed. Roads, basements, underpasses, and underground car parks might also experience flooding.
Due to the severe flooding, Chancellor Olaf Scholz canceled an election campaign appearance planned for Saturday. Instead, he plans to visit Saarland with Minister President Anke Rehlinger to understand the situation firsthand.
France sends emergency response teams
In the French border area with Germany, small rivers overflowed rapidly after heavy rainfall. Some cars were washed away by the floods. Sections of the highway 320 leading towards Saarbrücken were closed. However, no injuries or deaths were reported in Lorraine and Alsace on Thursday evening and Friday.
The Metz fire department reported over 300 interventions across about 70 municipalities in the Moselle region. Over 270 firefighters were deployed with approximately 200 vehicles. The area around Saint-Avold and Sarreguemines, which borders Saarland, was heavily affected. France's Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, advised extreme caution and issued a red alert for the region.
According to the DWD, Germany's weather forecast for Whitsun weekend predicts a combination of partly cloudy and sunny conditions. Persistent rain is expected on Saturday in a strip from the Eifel to Lusatia. Individual thunderstorms might develop in the afternoon and evening, especially in central Germany and near the Alps, with a "scattered and localized risk of thunderstorms due to heavy rainfall".
People can expect pleasant and dry weather on Saturday in many areas of the south and southeast, as well as coastal areas. Temperatures are predicted to be between 20°C and 24°C, with central Germany around 18°C and rain.
Read also:
- Floods: water levels remain critical in many places
- Snow chaos further restricts Bavaria
- Continuous operation in the flood areas
- Flood situation remains tense in many places
In response to the ongoing natural disasters, various international aid organizations have expressed their readiness to provide assistance to affected communities in Germany. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has urged all parties involved to prioritize safety and quick recovery efforts.
Given the extreme nature of the storms and floods, these events have been classified as century-level natural disasters, highlighting the need for comprehensive and long-term disaster risk management strategies. The German government, along with international partners, is considering this critical fact while developing recovery plans and mitigation measures.
Source: www.ntv.de
