A powerful storm is approaching. - Flood situation leads to evacuation of roads and closure of schools.
Floods are overflowing cellars, roads, and forcing people out of their homes: Due to additional rain on Monday night, the flood situation in various regions of Baden-Württemberg has significantly worsened. First responders are actively working to combat the flooding. As a result of anticipated rain showers and increasing water levels, evacuations are taking place, especially near the state capital. Most impacted areas include the Rems-Murr-District, the Ostalb District, and the Goppingen District.
The morning scene:
In the town of Ebersbach an der Fils, just south of Stuttgart, the district administration estimates many individuals are at risk. Some streets' residents have been evacuated. A state of emergency has been declared in Goppingen, as announced by the district administration. The number of people affected couldn't yet be confirmed by a city spokesperson.
Federal road 10 in Ebersbach an der Fils has been shut down around the city, with water reaching knee-height, according to a spokesman for the district administration. Floodwaters have broken through a noise barrier on the federal road, inundating the lanes. The majority of water on the road derives from the Fils River, which runs close by, but also from slopes. The railway line between Göppingen and Ebersbach has also closed.
The situation in the Ostalb District is also growing dire. Owing to forecasted floods, residents from sections of Leinzell, Heuchlingen, and Göggingen were evacuated in the night to Monday, as a spokeswoman for the crisis staff reported early on. The entire community of Täferrot needs to be evacuated. The first floods had already reached the village in the morning, it was stated. Approximately 250 to 300 people were transported to safe locations.
Threats of flooding loomed for communities on the Lein. Heavy thunderstorms and heavy rain in the northwest of the Ostalb District and the Rems-Murr District caused two retention basins in the area to reach full capacity. They are currently being drained. The extent of the flooding for the communities is undetermined. Residents were kept informed through warning apps.
The floods in the Rems-Murr District have unexpectedly intensified. The situation seemed controlled on Sunday evening, according to the authority. However, after the significant downpour throughout the night, a disaster alert was now in place, as the district administration reported Monday morning. This preliminary stage of the disaster alert ensures that deploying and releasing aid workers is possible. Since morning, evacuations have been taking place in flood-affected Rems communities.
Extreme rainfall severely impacted the tiny community of Rudersberg. The entire municipality is affected, all roads are closed, said a spokesperson for the local fire department Monday morning. The Schlechtbach and Klaffenbach areas are still flooded, and firefighters are trying to create access for residents. "There might be some trapped individuals," said the spokesperson. Rumors of 20 people missing there couldn't be corroborated. The same applies to the district administration.
Temporary dam in Esslingen
A provisional dam is being constructed in Esslingen am Neckar to prevent flooding in parts of the inner city. The peak was expected early Monday morning, the city announced. Flooding of the canals within the inner city area might result, the city stated. A temporary dam was constructed with around 1500 tons of stone and sand near the so-called Water House by a canal. Traffic disruptions are anticipated near the construction site.
Avoiding specific areas
Cities have issued warnings against accessing specific regions. "We urgently request that you do not enter cellars and underground garages in the inner city and in Oberesslingen. Additionally, please avoid entering areas immediately adjacent to the Neckar," the city of Esslingen exhorted. The city administration continues to monitor water levels. "Please stay updated on this website and in the media," it stated on Esslingen's site.
Landslides in the Black Forest
The heavy rainfall has repercussions in the Black Forest: In the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, multiple landslides occurred. In Villingen-Schwenningen, soil masses slid down a country road and a federal road, causing both to be closed. In the town itself, residents were removed from the water using inflatable boats when street water reached a height of 1.80 meters. Various locations experienced underground flooding.
In the Landkreis Tuttlingen, the districts of Aldingen, Gosheim, and Denkingen were heavily hit by flooding. Basements were filled with water, and streets were inundated. A landslide blocked a country road between Denkingen and Gosheim. A gas station in Aldingen had to be evacuated with water entering the premises. On a federal road, a car became surrounded by water masses. The fire department evacuated the occupants, resulting in one minor injury.
Minister-President visits two flood-impacted areas
The leader of Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, and state's interior minister, Thomas Strobl, planned to check the conditions in Meckenbeuren, part of Bodenseekreis, early in the day. Afterward, they intended to visit Erbach, situated in Alb-Donau-Kreis. This information was shared by a spokesperson from the regional government on Sunday night.
Heavy rains have led to significant disruptions in rail travel across southern Germany. Deutsche Bahn cautioned people not to visit flood-stricken regions of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and advised against taking non-essential trips. The rail network is severely impacted, and the trains still operating accommodation a large number of passengers. Temporary lodging accommodations have been set up in Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Munich for travelers.
Flood warnings in place
In several regions, schools and kindergartens will be closed in the coming week due to the danger of flooding. The Ostalbkreis' district office announced that this applies to Täferrot, Heuchlingen, and Leinzell. Primary schools and childcare services will also be shut down in Abtsgmünd as well as Rems-Murr-Kreis, where the cities of Waiblingen, Weinstadt, Remshalden, Winterbach, and Remseck am Neckar are specifically highlighted as affected areas.
More rain on the horizon
No relief is anticipated as the German Weather Service (DWD) anticipates heavy downpours and thunderstorms in the southwestern areas during the early part of the week. The DWD estimates rainfall of around 30 to 40 liters per square meter in the region south of the Swabian Alb. In Upper Swabia, near the Bodensee, and in the Allgäu, there is a possibility of strong thunderstorms carrying heavy precipitation. Hail is also projected in specific spots. The city of Schorndorf, located east of Stuttgart, asks its citizens to steer clear of the flooded zones.
Read also:
- Due to the worsening flood situation in Baden-Württemberg, weather forecasts predict further rainfall in the region, which could exacerbate the flooding in flood zones such as Ebersbach an der Fils and others.
- The sudden intensification of floods in the Rems-Murr District has forced the district administration to issue a disaster alert, especially in areas like Esslingen am Neckar, where a temporary dam has been built to prevent inner-city flooding.
- The state capital is also preparing for potential flooding, with evacuations taking place near Stuttgart, urging residents to avoid specific regions, including cellars and underground garages in the inner city and in Oberesslingen.
- The power outages caused by the storm and flooding have affected the operation of various facilities, including schools, prompting the closure of schools and kindergartens in affected areas such as the Ostalbkreis, where Täferrot, Heuchlingen, and Leinzell have been specifically impacted.
- The fire department in Esslingen am Neckar is working around the clock, battling flooding and landslides in the Black Forest, where multiple soil masses have slid down roads, including federal roads, causing closures in cities like Villingen-Schwenningen.
- The Ministries of Baden-Württemberg have appealed for help, with the Minister-President, Winfried Kretschmann, and the state's interior minister, Thomas Strobl, planning to visit flood-impacted areas to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
- The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued warnings for heavy downpours and thunderstorms throughout the early week, with up to 40 liters of rain per square meter estimated for the southwestern areas, potentially affecting cities like Schorndorf, located east of Stuttgart.
- Deutsche Bahn has advised against non-essential trips to flood-impacted regions, including Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and implemented temporary lodging accommodations in major cities like Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Munich to accommodate passengers.
- Ebersbach an der Fils residents living near the Fils River should stay vigilant, as additional rain could exacerbate the ongoing flooding issue, which has already shut down federal route 10 and forced evacuations.
- As the flooding continues to impact various regions in Baden-Württemberg and southern Germany, the climate crisis has once again been brought to the forefront, with scientists urging policymakers to take action against climate change and its associated extreme weather events.
