Heavy rainfall has led to the disruption of ICE train services.
As storms loom from the north, a train in the Baden-Württemberg area experiences a derailment caused by a landslide. Meanwhile, in Bavaria, ten communities acknowledge a state of emergency as many rivers reach record-breaking water levels.
During the late hours of Saturday evening, two carriages from an ICE train carrying 185 passengers derailed in Schwäbisch Gmünd due to a landslide, causing no harm to the passengers, as stated by the railway representative. The passengers were evacuated from the train on Sunday night with no panic or chaos reported by the dpa news agency. One passenger, Elena Fabian, praised the calm response and efficient handling of the situation by the emergency services.
The incident occurred in Schwäbisch Gmünd, around 50 kilometers east of Stuttgart. Baden-Württemberg had been experiencing intense rainfall since Friday. The spokesperson for the railway company notified that the first two carriages of the ICE 510 train—on its way from Munich to Cologne—derailed at around 11:20 PM. The train's passengers initially took refuge in a nearby kindergarten before being transported by bus to Plüderhausen and Stuttgart.
The duration of the track closure between Aalen and Stuttgart, along with the resumption of regular trains between Stuttgart and Munich, remained uncertain. Initially, it was believed that a regional train with around 60 passengers and one carriage were impacted by the landslide. However, this was later identified as the ICE 510. This train was redirected due to the flooding in South Germany between Ulm and Stuttgart. Interestingly, the railway line and the county road where the landslide occurred share the same path, leading to a car being affected as well. Its driver's safety was not compromised.
Bavarian Communities Declare Disaster Status
In South Germany, emergency services are engaged in response to the extended period of heavy rainfall. By the end of Sunday, ten communities in Bavaria had declared a state of emergency, as the Danube and various tributaries posed the threat of overflowing. According to the German Meteorological Service (DWD), additional showers and thunderstorms were approaching from the north later in the day, potentially creating additional local flooding risks. These storms could be quite strong and move slowly, causing a substantial impact on the already flooded regions.
The most vulnerable locations during these storms and thunderstorms on Sunday were the Swabian Alb and the regions north of it, as well as those around Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg. In the Augsburg district, evacuation orders were extended in the evening, encompassing primarily the communities along the Schmutter River. A makeshift shelter was set up at the Augsburg fairgrounds.
Sunday Night: A Brief Reprieve
Although Sunday night was expected to witness a slight reduction in rainfall, the DWD meteorologist stated that it wouldn't be as heavy as the previous night.
In Bavaria, the relentless rain resulted in water levels that had not been reached in a hundred years. The Günz, Memminger Ach, Kammel, Mindel, Paar, and Maisach rivers all carried the same amount of water as during a century flood. Additionally, officials in the northern region of the Upper Bavarian district of Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm feared a potential extreme flood. The Schrobenhausen fire department and rescue services readied for the evacuation of 670 individuals, who had earlier declared a disaster situation.
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The German Weather Service warns of potential extreme weather conditions in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg due to approaching storms, following the heavy rainfall that caused disruptions in train services. Unfortunately, this situation has led Bavarian communities to declare a state of emergency, with several rivers reaching record-breaking water levels. International news outlets are covering these events, highlighting the impact on transportation and the collective efforts of emergency services.
