Torrential downpours result in flooding. - Flooding in Bavaria claims two lives.
The death toll from the devastating floods in Bavaria reached two as rescuers discovered a lady's body in the cellar of a house in Schrobenhausen. The missing 43-year-old had been searched for since Sunday, according to a police spokesperson. The "Donaukurier" and "Bild" newspapers had reported on her disappearance earlier.
This increases the number of known victims in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to two. On Sunday, a firefighter was found dead in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, who lost his life during a rescue operation. He and his three colleagues had been attempting to rescue people in a rescue boat when it overturned.
Another firefighter has yet to be located. The 22-year-old had been travelling in a DLRG rescue boat in the Swabian Offingen on Sunday evening. The boat was crewed by five emergency responders, and it capsized due to the forceful currents. Four of the rescuers, aged between 24 and 70, successfully escaped without injury, but the 22-year-old is still unaccounted for. Rescue teams from various agencies, including the voluntary fire brigade, the DLRG water rescue, the water police, the Bundeswehr, and the police, are currently searching for him.
Over the past few days, Emergency Response Teams in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg have been tirelessly working to combat the flooding and its aftermath. The current situation remains unpredictable and extremely hazardous, as many small communities are affected. In some areas, the crisis is even more critical.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD) have arrived in the region to assess the situation and offer support. Faeser observed the seamless coordination and cooperation between the rescue teams during her visit to the Upper Bavarian market of Reichertshofen on Monday. She described the response as a significant improvement from the Ahr Valley disaster learning experiences, which was evident from the manner in which all agencies worked together.
Faeser was moved to comment on the selfless sacrifices made by the firefighter who died in the line of duty while saving others. In her opinion, the dedication of those who engage in voluntary work to ensure the safety of others is immeasurable. She expressed her heartfelt condolences to the deceased firefighter's family.
Meanwhile, the focus of the flooding has shifted eastward. The rising water levels in the Danube have become a cause for concern. The Donauhochwasserdienst Bavaria expects the Danube to carry as much water downstream from Regensburg as it did during the 2002 flood. In Deggendorf, for instance, the Isar runs into the Danube, and the Donauhochwasserdienst spokeswoman corroborated these levels, stating that the situation is comparable to the 2002 flood. The Danube spans a length of approximately 2850 kilometers, making it the second-longest river in Europe.
Despite the warning being lifted in Swabia on Monday, there is still a threat of additional dam failures as a result of the severe flooding. The population of the towns of Heißesheim and Auchsesheim in the Donau-Ries district has been urged to evacuate immediately due to the risk of dams collapsing. The district office in Donauwörth acknowledged that "proof must be considered of a full flooding of the entire settlements". Emergency shelters have been established as a result. No warning was issued for the earlier evacuated regions.
The German Weather Service (DWD) expects heavy and sometimes torrential rain to continue through Monday. The southern half of Bavaria will be especially affected. Persistent rainfall is also anticipated in parts of Swabia and Upper Bavaria overnight from Monday to Tuesday. In these areas, around 40 to 50 liters per square meter might fall in approximately 18 hours. In the Alps, the figure could reach up to 60 liters per square meter locally, and in the Upper and East Allgäu, up to 65 liters per square meter.
