Female perishes in water rescue attempt.
Floods and nonstop rain are taking a heavy toll on Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, and the extent of the damage is still undetermined. Currently, there's been one fatality.
A Saarbrücken woman met an untimely end during flood rescue efforts. The 67-year-old didn't survive and passed away on Sunday night after her injuries worsened in the hospital. So far, the flooding in the Saarland has had relatively mild consequences in terms of serious injuries or deaths.
A spokesperson from the Saarland Ministry of the Interior described the woman's death as an accident that occurred during a flood rescue. "She succumbed to her injuries while in the hospital." Saarbrücken's Mayor Uwe Conradt acknowledged the tragic circumstance, stating, "I'm extremely saddened by this news."
Saarbrücken urges residents to exercise caution in flood-stricken regions and refrain from engaging in risky activities. The city has established a collection point for large waste items, making it simple for residents to dispose of them.
In Saarbrücken, the city's highway remained flooded on Sunday, and officials shut it down. Cooperating institutions have also confirmed that a coal-fired power plant in Saarland was flooded. Train service was temporarily halted, but manage to resume later on Saturday.
On Saturday, Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saarland's Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger paid a visit to the region to analyze the situation. Both SPD leaders, wearing rubber boots, listened to the concerns of affected individuals in Kleinblittersdorf and elsewhere. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) also pledged assistance, asserting, "The federal government is aiding Saarland with ample resources to safeguard human lives following the devastating flooding and limit the destruction wrought by the overwhelming water."
On the radar: more rainfall this week
The frail nerves of many residents will be bared as they scrutinize the coming week's weather forecasts: "It'll be exciting on Tuesday," said Markus Übel, a meteorologist from the German Weather Service (DWD) in Offenbach. On Tuesday, torrential rainfall is expected, possibly impacting the southwest regions of Germany primarily. According to meteorologists, determining the exact points and quantities of rainfall is challenging as various models calculate them differently. However, they concur that parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Baden-Württemberg will likely be affected.
Despite the lowered rainfall estimates compared to the prior incidence, most of the rainfall will fall within a span of six to twelve hours. If Saarland and the Palatinate endure the brunt of the rainfall again, expect water levels to rise and bring high water and flooding with them.
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 predicted heavy rainfall, Saarbrücken has set up a collection point for large waste items to aid residents. Due to the ongoing floods, the International Red Cross has provided support to people affected in Saarland, offering essential aid and assistance.
Source: www.ntv.de
