Passau issues a state of emergency as Danube reaches 10-meter mark.

Danube Water Level Reaches Ten Meters, Crisis Declared in Passau

The city of Passau in Lower Bavaria has declared a disaster situation due to the impending worsening of the flood situation. At about 1:30 p.m., the water level of the Danube, as reported by the flood warning service (HND), is almost at ten meters. Around the same time, the peak of the Inn will also reach the city of three rivers, says a city spokesperson. Due to the heavy rain on Monday, the city anticipates a water level of more than seven meters at the Inn. Several streets and squares in Passau have already been closed due to the flood, schools have been canceled. Bus traffic is affected, and all connections to the old town have been stopped. The old and inner city takes the brunt of the flood, according to the information provided. The city is urging people to avoid flooded areas. Staying away from the flood-prone areas is highly recommended. Passau is a city where the Danube, Inn, and Ilz rivers meet. The flood situation in Bavaria is especially critical along the Danube.

12:53 A woman went swimming in the flood amidst a pedestrian underpass. A woman was spotted swimming in the river on Monday evening. After noting her in a bathing suit during a control drive, the fire department pulled her out of the water. City fire inspector Tim Rothenwöhrer mentions that people don't comply with the risk zones and try to capture selfies, which has become a typical occurrence. An occurrence like this one has not been witnessed before. The city asks residents to comply with the swimming ban in flooded areas. Patience is what the city is requesting. The swimming season in Deggendorf is set to begin on Thursday, according to the current reports.

12:49 Flooding in South Germany will be a significant event for insurers. According to the German Association of the Insurance Industry (GDV), the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg will be a considerable event for insurers. "The images from Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg paint a terrible picture," says GDV's managing director, Jörg Asmussen. "The insurance companies are already getting numerous reports of damages." It is still too soon to make an estimate of the damage. "We can only make a prediction once the water levels have subsided everywhere," he says. The flood in Saarland cost insurers about 200 million euros on Whit Monday. The extent of the damage caused by the floods in South Bavaria and at Lake Constance for the insurance companies will depend on how many houses are insured against these natural disasters. In Bavaria, this rate is 47%, while in Baden-Württemberg, it is 94%. There was a compulsory state insurance up to 1994. Asmussen is against newer political demands for compulsory insurance against floods. "That was not a market solution for private ownership. And the premiums did not accurately reflect the actual risk," he explains. "Insurance is not a solution." However, flood protection is continuing to advance. It requires measures like zoning restrictions in vulnerable areas and better dams. "Only then can we break the cycle of increasing damages and increasing premiums," adds the GDV managing director.

11:55 Bavaria extends aid to 100 million euros "plus X" for flood victims. Following the catastrophic flooding in various regions, the State Government of Bavaria plans to release at least 100 million euros in financial support for the affected individuals. "100 million plus X," says Bavaria's Prime Minister, Markus Söder, confirming a cabinet vote in Munich. This assistance package aims to benefit both private homes and businesses, self-employed individuals, and farmers. "Bavaria helps promptly and bureaucratically," says Söder. "We will not leave anyone alone in times of crisis." Söder also asked the federal government to honor its dedications and provide flood assistance. As per the state's plan, families may receive up to 5,000 euros in emergency aid. For damaged residential buildings, residents could be eligible for up to 10,000 euros. However, insurance payments would be deducted. For those facing an existential threat, Söder said that up to 100% could be compensated. Companies and business owners can expect between 5,000 and 200,000 euros in emergency aid. If the damage was covered in insurance, the figures would be adjusted.

11:27 Donau in Passau nearly reaches the ten-meter mark. The water level in Passau's Danube has almost attained the ten-meter mark. The HND recently reported a water level of almost ten meters at 11:00 a.m. The peg rose beyond the projections of 9.50 meters. From a water level of 8.50 meters, urban areas will be more severely flooded. This level was already attained in Passau in the afternoon.

Based on the forecast from Germany's meteorological service (DWD), those areas heavily affected by the floods can anticipate relatively dry days ahead. DWD's meteorologist Robert Hausen from Offenbach elaborate that they now issue a rain warning for southern Germany, albeit with only occasional showers and thunderstorms in the offing. This holds true throughout Germany up until Thursday. Temperatures in the northern and north-western parts will not rise above 20°C, which is consistent with the expected seasonal temperature. In the rest of Germany, temperatures ranging from 21°C to 26°C are predicted. At night, the temperatures may drop below 10°C. However, rainfall levels are expected to increase towards the weekend, with southern Germany experiencing more showers and even possible thunderstorms, albeit not of the same magnitude as before. Hausen adds, "Let's hope the water levels have stabilized by then."

11:48: Significant improvement in Bavaria's flood situation

Although Bavaria's flood warning service still describes the situation as tense due to high water levels, they no longer foresee heavy rains that could extract further flooding. Water levels are projected to lessen significantly. Currently, the concern primarily lies on the Danube. The situation on the Danube is showing signs of improvement, as the water levels of Danube tributaries are seeing a decline. Ingolstadt's flood peak will reach the highest warning level 4 during the evening, while there's only a minor increase of warning level 4 within the Kelheim area. Situation in Passau is predicted to be below the 2002 flood mark. The high water levels in the Danube section between Kelheim and Passau are projected to persist until Wednesday.

11:20: Fifth casualty from flood catastrophe

The total number of flood-related fatalities in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg rises to five, according to the police. A woman in Markt Rettenbach drove her car into the water on Monday, ignoring a barrier and slid it off the road in the midst of inundated state road. The water immediately surrounded the vehicle. The woman made a distress call to the emergency services, stating that her car was full of water. Once an employee from the water management office found the car, it was "almost completely" submerged. Rescue services declared her dead later in the day. The woman's car was on a flooded section of road, bypassing a barrier. Police conclude: "It was a tragic accident." They had earlier reported four flood casualties.

11:03: Autobahn 9 fully operational again following dam break

The Autobahn 9, which was partially obstructed due to a dam break in Upper Bavaria, now has normal traffic flow. The checkpoint for Munich was removed just this morning. Initially, only 300 vehicles were allowed on the stretch between Ingolstadt-South and Langenbruck, subsequently closing it for a period. Nevertheless, other roads in the vicinity, like the Bundesstraße 16 between Manching and Ernsgaden, continue to be off-limits due to flooding.

10:40: Shipping on Middle and Upper Rhine at a halt due to flooding

The Rhine, Germany's most significant waterway, has become impassable due to heavy rainfall. "Shipping has come to a halt on the Middle and Upper Rhine," a spokesperson from the Waterways and Shipping Administration Rhine (WSA) shares with Reuters. At the start of the week, the Upper Rhine was affected in areas such as Maxau, Mannheim, and Worms. However, sections of the Middle Rhine have joined the scenario, with Mainz and Bingen also being affected. "Many ships have parked or are in the ports," says the spokesperson. "They are waiting for the water levels to return to the regulatory values." The peak might still occur in the afternoon or in the evening. By Thursday, it appears that Bingen region could possibly be navigable again. "It's a matter of several days with no ship movement." These closures are implemented to avoid flooding to banks, since the ships generate waves that can potentially overflow the banks.

There is still serious disruption to train services in areas of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria due to floods, with four lines still experiencing issues. These lines are located between Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich, Donauwörth and Augsburg, Buchloe and Memmingen, and Ulm-Memmingen-Kempten. Munich remains inaccessible from the west and north. Train travel to South Germany is not advised by Deutsche Bahn, which is currently dealing with additional failures and delays on several other lines too. These include 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.

In other news, the search for a missing firefighter in the Swabian region continues, but not in the water at this time. The strong currents make it too dangerous for emergency services to search from the water. Both from land and the air, they will continue their efforts. A police spokesperson expresses concerns that the 22-year-old may have drowned, becoming the fifth known victim of the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. This 22-year-old had been out with a DLRG water rescue boat near the border with Baden-Württemberg during the night from Sunday to Monday, and the boat capsized in strong currents. Four emergency responders aged between 24 and 70 were able to reach land safely and were unharmed.

In Regensburg, the mayor advises against "high water tourism", which could endanger locals and further undermine the relief efforts. The city is already crowded with tourists and residents, and viewers are asked to stay away from the bridges to avoid disrupting rescue operations. The situation is tense in the city as high groundwater levels and unstable subsoil threaten evacuations. The mayor is hopeful that water levels will drop throughout the day on Tuesday. While it's too early to predict if the dikes and protective structures will hold, the current hazardous condition is a change from 2013, when groundwater levels and unstable subsoil have already put significant pressure on dikes.

In Passau, the situation is seen as particularly critical. The city had been expected to reach a high water mark of 9.50 meters in the afternoon, but it is already above this level. A reporter from ntv, Felix Balß stated this, adding that the city center is now under water and closed.

The sheer scale of the situation has made it difficult for the Bavaria Fire Brigade Association to respond effectively. According to their chairman, Johann Eitzenberger, this would be unprecedented for them. 30,000 volunteer firefighters are working daily to attempt to prevent and minimize damage, but they’re unsure of what may occur. "We will also need special skills for a long time, such as dealing with oil from heating tanks.", said Eitzenberger.

In other areas along the Danube, there is growing concern as water pushes against dikes and additional protective walls. Some of these dikes are now at risk of breaking. The Passau city center is already under water and closed.

The Deutsche Bahn is still experiencing major train network disruption in parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria from the flooding situation. At this moment, four railway lines are affected and have not yet returned to normal operation. The sections involved are between Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich on the Stuttgart-Ulm-Augsburg-Munich line, Donauwörth and Augsburg on the Nuremberg-Donauwörth-Augsburg-Munich line, Buchloe and Memmingen on the Munich-Memmingen-Lindau line, and the entire Ulm-Memmingen-Kempten line. These incidents severely restrict travel to Munich from the west and the north.

A warning has come from the Bahn for travelers not to visit South Germany due to ongoing train disruptions on other lines as well. Currently experiencing faults and delays are 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 lines among others.

As every day, more volunteer firefighters are being called upon to manage the flooding situation in Bavaria. Johann Eitzenberger, the chairman of the Bavarian Fire Brigade Association, has stated that their current efforts are unprecedented. Over 30,000 firefighters are working day-by-day to manage the floodwaters and minimize damage. However, the ongoing challenges call for specialized knowledge and ability such as oil-spill handling.

The need for further precautions becomes apparent as various parts of southern Germany remain under the force of floodwaters. The Danube is pressing onto walls and dikes in several areas. Typically, Passau has been identified to be one such city at serious risk as the water level there is above normal limits. Passau's city center is now under water and closed to visitors.

While rescue operations can be hampered by tourism, local citizens are requested not to engage in "high water tourism" to avoid disrupting helpers who are trying to provide relief. Instead of observing the floodwaters, the mayors of these cities want people to see how it is. Nevertheless, assistance is highly needed and being provided by 30,000 plus volunteer firefighters. Everyone is on the move, making the situation more complex but aid assistance is being provided as quickly as possible to handle the imminent risks.

In Bavaria's Flintsbach town, portions of Burg Falkenstein have shifted due to constant rain. Around 50 residents have been successfully evacuated as per Rosenheim's division. This medieval structure is a preferred hiking spot situated along the Austrian border. The primary castle, Falkenstein, was constructed during the 13th century, as mentioned by the Chiemsee-Alpenland Tourism Association. The outer construction went through development in the 15th and 16th centuries. However, this entire complex got destroyed from extensive fires around the late 18th century. Currently, it is part of Petersberg's historic sites with Roman Peterskirche and the adjacent Mesner House. The exact amount of damage to the ancient site is yet to be revealed.

Around 6:22 am, the search for a missing firefighter will not be followed up on actively. The 22-year-old is likely dead based on a police spokesperson's statements and will only be found when the water abates. On Sunday night, he was aboard a DLRG rescue boat with five other members near the Offingen-Baden-Württemberg-border. The vessel capsized in the violent currents. Four rescue members, ranging between 24 and 70, managed to navigate towards safety and remained unharmed.

5:33 am - Stations document "century-level rainfall"

Thomas Deutschländer, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service, confirms that certain regions in South Germany received a similar quantity of rainfall to what they would typically experience every 50 to 100 years. He alerts, "That's pretty special, but not entirely unexpected." He further stipulates, "We have to review the data." The data could be inaccurate as some stations are nonfunctional or are not equipped to handle such heavy pour. ".

04:07 Danube in Passau surpasses the nine-meter mark

Passau's Danube water level crossed the 9.27-meter mark during the night between Monday and Tuesday. This evaluation was provided by HND (High Water Information Service) at 3 a.m. Their evening report on Monday showed a level reading of 8.83 meters. The HND predicts a peak of 9.50 meters, which should occur during the afternoon on Tuesday. After 8.50 meters, the water inundates the beaches. This level was reached in Passau on Monday afternoon.

02:47 200 people living in Regensburg's core area must vacate homes

Urging residents of Regensburg's Werftstraße to evacuate their homes, the city reports that the area is facing a worsening flood situation. The ground is increasingly collapsing due to the rising water levels, resulting in an imminent threat to the flood defenses.

04:07 Flood conditions in Rosenheim's southern area have gradually improved

The Rosenheim district has registered some minor improvements in the flood situation. Hence, they updated their report. This was also communicated by the department for schools and kindergartens to remain shut on Tuesday. Furthermore, in Rohrdorf and Raubling, rescues operations were underway, but it wasn't clear how many people were involved. In addition, after the declaration of a disaster, over 1000 rescue workers from the fire department and the Technical Relief Organization have taken charge. Data from Germany's Weather Service suggests that the rainfall in the region should ease around Tuesday midnight.

00:12 Rivers in southwest experience declining water levels

Following the recent floods, the water levels along most rivers in the southwest region are dropping once more. There are still increasing water levels, however, at major rivers like the Danube and Rhine, according to the flood warning center. Yet, there are no anticipated values that pose a potential threat of being surpassed, states a spokesperson. Presently, the Danube from the Hundersingen dam in the Sigmaringen district through to Lake Constance, the High Rhine, and the Upper Rhine continue to see a rise in water levels. The Maxau dam by Karlsruhe, which reached a high of 8.29 meters on Sunday, is predicted not to be surpassed again. The Neckar, on the other hand, is observing a decreasing trend.

22:53 Rosenheim District: residents urged to stay home

The Rosenheim district in Upper Bavaria has directed its residents to remain indoors after the floods. According to an official statement, there is great danger to life and limb. People are advised to steer clear of outdoor areas, keep away from open bodies of water, and not hinder rescue services. Starting Tuesday, schools in a list of municipalities - Brannenburg, Raubling, Rohrdorf, Oberaudorf, Kiefersfelden, Nußdorf, Neubeuern, Bad Feilnbach, and Flintsbach - will be shut down. The Rosenheim State Education Authority will inform the affected schools. Kindergartens within these towns are also slated to close.

21:47 Burg Falkenstein in Rosenheim district sustains destruction

In Flintsbach of the Rosenheim district, parts of Burg Falkenstein have been wrecked due to the heavy rain. The Rosenheim district administration is responsible for this report. 50 residents living beneath the castle are compelled to evacuate.

21:08 Germany's largest campsite empties out

The Wesel campsite in North Rhine-Westphalia must clear up within 24 hours as a result of the ongoing flood situation, explain the campsite operators, Grav-Island. The rising water levels adjacent to the rivers and water bodies surrounding the campsite are the root cause of this. Grav-Island, the largest campsite in Germany with 5000 permanent campers, is impacted by these developments.

20:53 Regensburg: Werftstraße requires emergency evacuation

The Werftstraße in Regensburg is being cleared as city authorities announce. The street is positioned directly on the Danube, and due to the elevated groundwater levels, the earth beneath it is weakening. The installed flood protection mechanisms may fail, which could lead to the street being submerged. Approximately 200 people are to be evacuated from 21:00.