Storm - Flood situation in Lower Saxony remains tense
The flood situation in Lower Saxony remains tense on Wednesday. However, the State Agency for Water Management, Coastal Defence and Nature Conservation (NLWKN) said on Wednesday that the situation is not expected to worsen on a large scale in the coming days. "The worst is over, but it's not over yet," a spokeswoman told dpa.
Levels are expected to continue to rise, especially on the Middle Weser and the upper reaches of the Aller, Leine and Oker rivers. However, no major, nationwide rainfall is expected in the next few days, which will ease the situation somewhat. Heavier rain is not expected until the end of the week.
On the Weser between Hannoversch Münden and Höxter, the peak levels have now been reached and the water is falling again. Despite the increased inflow from the reservoirs, the Oker and Innerste rivers in the Harz region are not expected to get worse either, according to the authorities.
On Tuesday morning, the emergency spillways opened at the Oker and Innerste dams after both reservoirs had reached their capacity limit. "However, this is not expected to worsen the flood situation in the Innerste and Oker rivers," said a spokeswoman on Wednesday.
In Braunschweig, the Oker did not rise dramatically during the night. During the night to Wednesday, the water levels remained at a constant level, said a spokesperson for the city. The water from the Oker dam in the Harz Mountains, where the emergency spillway opened on Tuesday, had spread widely across the area.
According to the NLWKN, the emergency spillways of the two dams will remain open on Wednesday. The responsible Harz waterworks initially did not want to give an assessment of the current situation at the eight reservoirs. On Tuesday evening, the waterworks announced that the levels had fallen slightly due to the increased water discharge. This would create storage space again for the coming days.
In Bremen, the fire department is preparing for a lengthy flood operation in some parts of the city. In the Borgfeld district, the residents of several houses on the Wümme were evacuated. Properties in the district of Timmersloh are also affected by the flooding. "Timmersloh is 70 percent blocked by water," said the fire department spokesman. To get there, you have to take a very long detour.
In Lingen (Emsland), a campsite on the Ems was evacuated. "Entry is not permitted due to the high water level," the town announced on Wednesday. Around 60 campers were affected.
On Wednesday, the town of Rinteln (district of Schaumburg) lifted the evacuation issued the day before for more than 100 residents of a street near the town wall. The area had been secured with a flood protection system during the night.
In Celle, a dyke on the Aller was damaged by flooding and rain. Sandbags and mobile dykes are now to be used to build three lines of protection there, the district announced.
In Neustadt am Rübenberge in the Hanover region, a car driver got stuck in the water after ignoring a road closure on the Leine, according to the local fire department.
NLWKN situation report
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The flood situation in Germany, specifically in Lower Saxony, remains tenuous, with Hanover being one of the affected areas. The ongoing rain has contributed to the flood situation, causing the water level to rise in various rivers such as the Middle Weser and the upper reaches of the Aller, Leine, and Oker. Despite the prediction of no major nationwide rainfall in the near future, authorities anticipate that the levels will continue to increase. The fire department in certain areas like Bremen is preparing for a prolonged flood operation due to the high water levels.
In response to the flood situation, the emergency spillways at Oker and Innerste dams were opened, but it is not expected to exacerbate the situation. The increased inflow from the reservoirs has led to rising water levels in the Oker and Innerste rivers in the Harz region, but this is not forecast to worsen further. The situation report from NLWKN highlights that while the peak levels on the Weser between Hannoversch Münden and Höxter have been reached, the water is receding.
The town of Rinteln in Schaumburg has lifted the evacuation for over 100 residents, and sandbags and mobile dykes are being used in Celle to construct multiple lines of protection due to flooding and rain damage to a dyke on the Aller. In Neustadt am Rübenberge, a car driver got stuck in the water after disregarding a road closure on the Leine, according to the local fire department.
In Lingen (Emsland), the entry to a campsite on the Ems is prohibited due to the high water level, affecting around 60 campers. Additionally, properties in Timmersloh are facing flooding, and the residents of several houses on the Wümme had to be evacuated. The fire department spokesman stated that Timmersloh is 70% blocked by water, requiring a long detour to reach the area.
The ongoing bad weather and flood situation have led to tightening measures in various parts of Germany, with authorities urging caution and keeping residents informed of the developments. The NLWKN report highlights the continuous monitoring and preparation in the wake of this challenging weather situation.
Source: www.stern.de
