Disaster at 10:25 pm in Freising
The Freising district has declared a disaster due to overflowing rivers and streams, with the Amper and Glonn threatening record-breaking water levels. The authorities fear a massive flood in the town of Hohenkammer, as well as all the towns along the Amper. Residents are urged to prepare for such a situation by emptying their cellars. A total of ten Bavarian districts have declared a state of emergency.
In Dillingen, the district administration is also declaring a disaster due to continuous rainfall. The situation at the Zusam, a tributary of the Danube, has deteriorated, and the local crisis team has reached out for assistance from the Bundeswehr. Experts anticipate a 100-year flood on the small river, which could impact the towns of Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. Meanwhile, the authorities are preparing to drain water from the swollen Danube into the Riedstrom, a former natural flooding area of the river. The district pleads with local farmers to keep their livestock in secure stables.
The Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district has determined a disaster due to the swelling Danube and its tributaries. The District Administration of the Upper Bavarian municipality reports that the Water Management Office Ingolstadt anticipates a level 4 at the Pegel Neuburg for the night. The state of affairs at the Zusam, a tributary of the Danube, and at the Weilach, which flows into the Paar, is even more problematic. In the Schrobenhausen district of Mühlried, the Weilach has already overflowed its banks and flooded a residential area. Rescue teams are set to evacuate residents there, according to district president Peter von der Grün. The circumstances are alarming, particularly in the southern part of the district. Von der Grün highlighted that the protection of roads, bridges, and paths is a top priority. "Only then can the fire brigade continue to respond to emergencies," he said.
The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) employed a helicopter to rescue two people from the roof of their home in Babenhausen. The spokesperson for the BRK said their situation was life-threatening. The house in the Unterallgäu district was in imminent danger due to the vast water mass. Other individuals were saved from their dwellings using inflatable boats.
In several Augsburg townships, people have been ordered to leave their homes and buildings in response to the impending flood. A spokeswoman for the Augsburg district administration suggested that the situation in the district's northern region would worsen by evening. Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the entire municipality of Nordendorf, are among the affected communities. The state of Swabia has established a shelter for evacuees at the Augsburg fairgrounds.
Bundeswehr soldiers have been dispatched to help with the flooding in Bavaria. A spokeswoman for the Bavarian Bundeswehr command said, "The Bundeswehr is assisting the districts of Gunzburg and Aichach-Friedberg after they made official requests for help." Around Gunzburg, blankets and field beds are being provided. At least 50 Bundeswehr soldiers will arrive in Aichach-Friedberg over the course of the next few hours. In addition, two trucks of the Bundeswehr are being used.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser guaranteed further support to the regions impacted by the floods in southern Germany. "Since the heavy continuous rain and the imminent floods, the THW (Technical Relief Organization) is prepared to deploy more personnel," said the SPD politician in Berlin. "We will continue to support the affected federal states with all available resources." As of Saturday evening, Faeser has reported that 520 THW employees are engaged in flood rescue, rescue efforts, and dike security. Faeser expressed gratitude for the volunteers' tireless rescues and life-saving work, urging those in the flood-affected areas to heed the warnings and directions of the authorities.
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18:58: Zugspitze: 29 Climbers RescuedThe 29 climbers in distress at the Zugspitze were successfully rescued by the mountain rescue service and are now safe at the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin. Several groups had called for help as they couldn't proceed due to harsh weather conditions and new snow at around 2500 meters, approximately 900 meters shy of the Sonnalpin. The mountain rescue service entrusted with the task, while employees from Zugspitzbahn immediately dispatched snow groomers to join the search party.
18:42: Brandenburg Storm WarningThe German Weather Service (DWD) raises the alarm for severe thunderstorms in parts of Brandenburg, including Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree. Until the evening, the area is under the second-highest warning level - lightning strikes, uprooted trees, fallen power lines, falling objects, rapid flooding of roads, landslides, and hail predictions are expected.
18:11: Flooding Partially Closes Bavaria's A3A3 motorway in Bavaria between Parsberg and Beratzhausen was partially shut down for about ten kilometers due to flooding issues. The Upper Palatinate Police Department alerts that the road is partially submerged in water. "Water from the fields is spilling onto the motorway," shares a police spokesperson.
17:51: Memmingen Prison EvacuatedThe prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, is under evacuation due to the flooding risk from heavy rain. Up to 150 inmates are being transferred to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg for temporary relocation. The prison lies in the path of the Memminger Ach - rising tides threaten the facility, and with part of the courtyard already underwater, power outages are a potential concern. The police were called in, and the fire department sent in pumps to remove the water from the prison.
17:35: Storms Flood SwabiaNumerous locations in Swabia experience flooding due to heavy rains, with level 4 exceedances outlined by the HND at varied water gauges, including: Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), and others. Dasing (Paar) is also expected to reach level 4. The HND further reveals that centennial flooding has occured in Nattenhausen (Günz) and Dasing (Paar).
The Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) predicts a level 3 peak on Saturday and Sunday, while water levels in the upper Iller tributaries have already receded. In the northern Donau tributaries of Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmühl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab, individual gauges exhibit levels 1 and 2 with an increasing tendency. From Neu-Ulm to Kelheim, levels 3 are expected to rise, with the Pegel Kelheim following suit. In the downstream Donau section from Passau, increases to levels 1 and 2 are anticipated.
17:23: Munich Airport Flight Operations UnchangedThough poor weather conditions prevail in various Bavarian areas, operations at Munich Airport are proceeding as usual. To date, no flight cancellations have occurred. Airport spokesperson Robert Wilhelm reveals that "water stands in the fields next to the runways," but the facility's elevated location, runway grooving, and sunken sides allow excess water to drain away, thus preventing aquaplaning.
5:07 PM Söder: "Things are starting to heat up now"
The state's leader, Markus Söder, is inspecting the devastation in the highly affected region of Swabia. He appreciates the aid provided by helpers and officials during his visit to Diedorf in Augsburg's district. Söder declares that Bavaria is prepared enough to handle the crisis. However, he acknowledges that it's a significant hassle for the residents, stating "This isn't over yet. Things are just getting started." The majority of resources, such as sandbags, are being centered in Swabia. "Without the assistance of responders like the firefighters, Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization, we'd have no chance," Söder pleads. These responders demonstrated exemplary dedication. Citizens are requested to follow the protocols. Evacuation orders aren't to be ignored, nor should people attempt to exit their basement or attempt to drive out of their garage.
4:35 PM No more trains here
The adverse weather and flood in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria are impacting the rail service. Per Deutsche Bahn, there are hindrances and train cancellations in southern Germany. A spokesperson states that two ICE lines are affected. The one linking Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich won't have any trains tomorrow due to the flooding. The railway between Ulm and Augsburg is also affected. For real-time information on track disruptions, cancellations, and delays, check the Bahn website.
4:12 PM No trains in Unterallgäu either - Forgotten citizens must display a white cloth
The disaster status now extends to Bavaria's District of Unterallgäu. A network glitch in Babenhausen has halted parts of the mobile network. Anybody in dire need of assistance who can't initiate an emergency call should hang a white sheet or cloth outside their window to highlight the demand for aid, says the district administration. In Babenhausen, people are being evacuated from their homes utilizing inflatable boats.
3:57 PM: 400 THW units in action in South Germany
The weather conditions in South Germany have led to the mobilization of around 400 units from the Technical Relief Organization (THW). The THW in Bonn announced this. They're draining water, fortifying dams, and evacuating residents proactively. "Thanks to the continuing and sometimes heavy rain, the THW is ready to send more forces," it states. In the impacted areas, mobile water depth indicators will be installed and tracked, according to the THW. Due to pending weather reports and expected floods in the coming hours, the THW prepares to deploy additional THW units. Units are stood by nationwide. Each team comprises around 40 THW members who operate three sewage pumps, a generator, an exploration vehicle, and a command post. Each team can flush 30,000 liters of water per minute.
3:37 PM: A map displaying all current flood warnings
This map provides an overview of all the current flooding alerts. The map is frequently refreshed.
3:15 PM: Report: 26-member climbing group trapped below the Zugspitze
A 26-member climbing group appears to be trapped several hundred meters beneath the Zugspitze's summit. BR broadcasts the news, mentioning that 60 centimeters of additional snow have been deposited on the Zugspitze in recent hours, while heavy rain is torrential in the valley. Temperatures are well-below freezing, and visibility is only at 100 meters. Numerous rescue parties have been dispatched in search of the mountain climbers in the blizzard. They may not be adequately equipped and suffer exhaustion. It's uncertain why the group decided to climb the Zugspitze despite the unfavorable weather conditions.
2:52 PM: Disaster situation declared in Landkreis Donau-Ries
The Landkreis Donau-Ries in Bavaria has also declared a disaster situation. This step aims to "gather all forces and make us more efficient in preparing for the anticipated water levels," District Administrator Stefan Rössle explains. "Remain as calm as possible, and try to avoid low-lying areas."
2:20 PM: A dam has ruptured near Augsburg - Evacuation plans underway
In the Swabian Augsburg district, a dam and a dike have fractured. The Landratsamt informed the public of this. Residents in specific streets in Diedorf must relocate from their houses. Plans are being made for an evacuation in Diedorf's Anhausen district. "Proceeding to higher floors will no longer suffice," states the municipality. A dam has broken in Burglwalden, and a dike in the Anhauser Weiher has crumbled. Affected residents are requested to leave their homes independently within the coming hour. The authorities also urge citizens to maintain distance from railway underpasses. Floods could surge those locations, creating a peril to life.
The Bavarian Minister President, Markus Söder, and Interior Minister, Joachim Herrmann, are set to visit the flooded region in the Swabian area of Augsburg on Saturday. The purpose of their trip is to observe the situation first-hand, as announced by the Interior Ministry. The district administrator of Augsburg, Martin Sailer, will also join their tour. The event location was changed at the last minute due to the worsening flood conditions. Initially, the politicians were planning to visit the nearby Fischach, which is also affected by the flood. In Diedorf, preparations are currently underway to evacuate residents. The flooding in Swabia is particularly severe due to the heavy rainfall. Following the district of Günzburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have now declared a state of disaster.
The situation in Meckenbeuren on Lake Constance's shores is deteriorating due to the flood. The height of the Schussen river reached 4.72 meters in the afternoon, stated a representative from the town. It is anticipated that the highest level will be reached shortly. During the previous flood in 2021, the river only reached 4.50 meters. In normal conditions, it carries 45 centimeters of water. On Friday night, the municipality with a population of 14,000 advised around 1,300 residents to vacate their homes as a precaution. Most of them sought shelter with friends or relatives. Only a small number of people utilized the emergency facility. In order to avoid any potential damage from the flood, schools, daycare facilities, and community halls were emptied out in advance. In the municipality, bridges were also closed to minimize the risk.
