Inundation - Habeck and Söder journey through the flooded area
Following multiple days of non-stop rain, emergency workers are now in action in southern Germany due to surging rivers and waterways. Approximately ten communities in Bavaria have declared a state of emergency, with rising waters in the Danube and some of its tributaries causing concern.
Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck acknowledged the efforts of the rescue personnel during a visit to the stricken areas in Upper Bavaria. Upon learning of a firefighter's passing, Habeck was said to have been "shook out of his rain boots." During the visit with Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, Habeck addressed the sacrifices made by emergency workers, stating that it was time to prioritize their efforts for the safe rescue of those in danger. "We'll fulfill any requests for help as they come," he emphasized.
The Bavarian town of Meckenbeuren near Lake Constance is experiencing flooding, with the Schussen river spilling into the districts of Kehlen and Brochenzell. As of now, there are no reported injuries. Approximately 1300 individuals have been instructed to leave their homes and seek shelter. While some residents have chosen to remain in their homes and seek refuge on the upper floors, others have evacuated the area.
Communities in the Schussen area are bracing for a river level of 4.86 meters, which has since decreased in the evening. In normal times, the Schussen should only reach a depth of 45 centimeters.
The German military has been deployed in the Dillingen an der Donau district to assist relief workers. Approximately 70 Bundeswehr personnel are at work to support aid efforts in the Dillingen an der Donau region. Thirty of these soldiers have been tasked with filling sandbags in the city of Höchstadt that will later be used for riverbank reinforcement in Wertingen. A further 40 soldiers are currently stationed in Peterswörth, a district of the town of Gundelfingen, where the Donau has overflowed on the left bank towards the current. A temporary dam, erected on the previous day, had broken.
Further rain and storms are predicted by the German Weather Service. Incoming storms and showers may increase the threat of localized flooding, especially in the afternoons. These showers could be strong and slow-moving, leading to rapidly renewed flooding if they hit already saturated ground.
Regions under threat include the Swabian Alb and areas around it, as well as the areas surrounding Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg. Localized evacuation calls have been issued several times throughout the night in Augsburg's district, with affected areas being primarily along the Schmutter River. A makeshift shelter has been set up at the Augsburg fairgrounds.
Over the past few days, torrential rain has caused considerably more precipitation in some locations than is on average expected in a month. In Kißlegg, Baden-Württemberg, 130 liters per square meter fell on Friday, while the average is 118 liters per month. Bad Wörishofen, Bavaria, saw 129 liters fall in 24 hours during the heavy rain, with an average of 101 liters per month there.
Two wagons of an ICE train have derailed in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Baden-Württemberg. The 185 travelers on board were unharmed and safely removed from the train, a railway representative confirmed. The train was diverted to a track impacted by the floods in Germany's south.
The heavy rainfall experienced in southern Germany is now resulting in frequent train derailments and delays. "There are several disrupted routes," disclosed a railway representative. Among the lines disrupted were those running from Munich-Nuremberg-Berlin, Stuttgart-Mannheim-Frankfurt, Munich-Lindau-Bregenz-Zurich, Karlsruhe-Stuttgart-Crailsheim-Nuremberg, and Augsburg-Kempten-Oberstdorf. Between Stuttgart and Munich, long-distance train traffic was disrupted in the morning.
The railway has advised against travel to areas in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg impacted by flooding. In trains still in operation, crowded conditions may be encountered. For those who wish to postpone their trip because of weather-related issues, tickets can be used at a later time. Services have been canceled.
In the German regions of Thuringia and Saxony, emergency services have mainly dealt with a few minor incidents. However, rescue workers in Colditz, part of the Leipzig district, were kept busy: More than 20 basements were submerged, and buildings were flooded during the night, according to city fire chief Steffen Schmidt. Furthermore, two neighborhoods were temporarily blocked off due to heavy rainfall. Luckily, no one was harmed, as per initial reports. In Bautzen and Görlitz districts of Saxony, there were a total of 16 weather-related occurrences. The fire department had to free streets from mud. The police stations in Leipzig and Chemnitz didn't note any significant events or damage. In Hesse, autos encountered significant flooding on the A7 motorway, forcing it to close for prolonged periods.
