Intense Weatherfront Approaches: Prepare for Rough Conditions - Firefighter perishes in Bavaria due to submerged land.
Throughout Bavaria, heavy rainfall has led to significant flooding in various regions. Roads were submerged by brown floodwater, forcing rescuers to save trapped individuals using inflatable boats or helicopters. Unfortunately, one firefighter lost his life during a rescue operation in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Upper Bavaria. He was alongside three colleagues attempting to rescue a family from a house engulfed by water and capsized in a rescue boat. The other rescuers escaped the water, with one hospitalized and the other two returning home. The body of the deceased firefighter was found early Sunday morning.
In the Upper Bavarian Schrobenhausen, a missing person is possibly trapped in a flooded basement. It's unclear if it's a man or a woman, according to district office officials. Neighbors alerted emergency services, and divers were present overnight. The basement and its ground floor were completely underwater. A new search operation was scheduled for Sunday morning.
The accident in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm transpired in the communities of Uttenhofen and Affalterbach. The 42-year-old man was aiding three colleagues to save a family trapped in their home due to floods. Their rescue boat capsized during the operation. It happened around 11:30 p.m.
Of the three other firefighters, two went back home, and one was initially treated in the hospital. They had rescued roughly 140 residents from the affected area. Two nursing homes were affected by a power outage, leading officials to move residents to hospitals and another nursing home.
Persistent rainfall caused this flood crisis throughout Bavaria. Almost 300 people were evacuated by Saturday evening, and 10 communities declared a state of emergency. Ten districts, including the Donau, faced severe flood threats. The southern districts of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Upper Bavarian Schrobenhausen, and Augsburg, faced particularly challenging situations.
In Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, approximately 200 people were evacuated from flood-stricken areas or they chose to leave their homes. Two nursing homes had to be evacuated due to an electricity outage, as reported by Landrat Albert Gürtner. Each home housed about 100 residents. Over 100 other households in flood-prone areas also had to vacate their homes. In the southern district, officials were concerned about an impending flood that might exceed a once-in-a-century event by more than 1.5 times.
Upper Bavarian Schrobenhausen announced the evacuation of around 670 people late Saturday night. Tractors and boats were planned to be used in the Mühlried district along the Weilach River. The town had previously declared a state of emergency. Residents from a nursing home with about 100 inhabitants were also to be moved to the district hospital and another nursing home. "The situation in the southern district remains tense," said Landrat Peter von der Grün.
In the Augsburg district of Schwabia, evacuation procedures were expanded overnight. The communities along the Schmutter River faced evacuation orders. An emergency shelter was recognized at the Augsburg fairgrounds, with buses provided for residents unable to leave the area on their own.
Floods reached level 4, the highest alert level, in Bavaria at a handful of locales on Sunday. The Bavarian flood warning service warned of serious inundations being a threat, particularly on the Danube tributaries of Gunz, Mindel, Zusam, Schmutter, Paar, Abens, Ilm, and Amper, and the upper Danube. Several hundred-year flood levels were noted.
The authorities in Günzburg distributed thousands of sandbags to combat the floods. The Bavarian Red Cross dispatched rescue crews from Unterfranken to the region. Specialized flood rescue squads were part of the Unterfranken water police.
As the intensity of the rain decreased somewhat, the flood situations prevailing in the upper areas of the most impacted rivers improved. Nonetheless, the potential for heavy and persisting rain showers still existed, so weather warnings by the German Meteorological Service should be observed to remain vigilant for a possible deterioration of the situation.
Floods of unprecedented scale have affected Germany, with Bavaria hit the hardest by the catastrophic rain and flooding. Extensive damage and loss of life have been reported, with infrastructure, houses, and vehicles submerged. As the rain ceases, initial rescue efforts have been followed by water extraction efforts. Additional support from the German Air Force was requested by state governors to aid the search for survivors and assist in clean-up projects. The recovery process is expected to take weeks, with a full tally of casualties and property damage still unknown.
Aid is being provided from across Europe, including France, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, and Switzerland, while governments have offered financial and material support. American military helicopters are being utilized to aid in rescue operations. The international community has expressly condemned the tragic loss of life and devastation. Germany will likely see aid flows boosting their flood-defense infrastructure, as the drama of the events has raised awareness.
