Severe weather condition observed - Hope emerges amid persistent flood conditions.
Torrential rain results in river floods that damage vehicles, inundate streets, and necessitate the evacuation of residents: As of Monday, the flooding crisis persisted in the surrounding areas of Stuttgart, Oberschwaben, and the Allgau. In contrast, some rivers demonstrated signs of subsiding. Additionally, communities like Esslingen and the village of Rudersberg experienced success stories.
The state of affairs
Following more rainfall during the night on Monday, the flood situation deteriorated notably on the Rems and Murr, in the Ostalbkreis and the Göppingen district, as well as in Oberschwaben.
In the town of Ebersbach an der Fils (Göppingen district), southwest of Stuttgart, people in certain streets received orders for evacuation. The flood affected a residential community, prompting an extraordinary emergency situation, as the Göppingen district administration announced in the early morning. The exact number of those affected was still unknown. The B10 federal highway in Ebersbach faces closure, with water reaching knee-high in certain locations, informed a spokesperson for the district administration. Floodwaters have breached a noise barrier on the B10, submerging the lanes. Most of the water on the road originates from the nearby Fils river, but slopes also contribute to it. The railway line between Göppingen and Ebersbach is also blocked.
The situation in the Ostalbkreis worsened during the early morning as well. Due to the projected floods, people from segments of the towns of Leinzell, Heuchlingen, and Göggingen were relocated in the middle of the night, informed a spokeswoman for the crisis staff. The community of Täferrot was evacuated beforehand. Later, the crisis staff adjusted the flood scenario from an extreme flood event to a once-a-century flood event. Most people were able to return to their homes. However, severe flooding is still a concern. "But it's an encouraging indicator of improvement," said the spokeswoman.
Favorable news after severe flooding also arose across the Rems-Murr district. The integrated control center shared that the risk of flooding had been withdrawn. Since holiday evacuations would also be lifted, it was reported. Additionally, retention basins were being emptied gradually and meticulously.
In the night, the district issued a disaster alert due to the catastrophic rainfall. This preliminary stage of the disaster alert guarantees the availability of disaster control assistance. The same applied to the village of Rudersberg, where a warning was issued. Images depicted washed-out automobiles and landslides.
The extreme rainfall primarily affected the municipality of Rudersberg. The entire locality had been impacted, with all roads closed, explained a spokesperson for the local fire department. Flooding amplified in Schlechtbach and Klaffenbach. The fire department endeavored to reach the residents. Rumors of 20 individuals missing in the area could not be confirmed by the spokesperson or the district administration. The flooding warning in the region has now been dismissed.
District officials in the neighboring district of Ludwigsburg have, as of Monday, moved from a dire danger situation and rising water levels. "Although there is currently no strong precipitation, we still anticipate an increase in water levels on the Rems and Murr," said District Administrator Dietmar Allgaier. In Remseck, the summit of the Rems has yet to be reached. The command center continues to assess the circumstances and lead the emergency forces. Approximately 250 firefighters and 100 policemen and policewomen are on the job.
The neighboring municipalities in the vicinity of the Neckar, Rems, and Murr were also summoned on Monday to establish local crisis teams. This catastrophic flood could occur only once in a century. In addition, two nursing homes in Steinheim an der Murr were evacuated. Over 100 residents at these facilities were transferred to other accommodations.
Rapid dam construction in Esslingen
In Esslingen am Neckar, a temporary dam was being built to hamper the anticipated flooding of parts of the old town. The peak was projected early on Monday morning. During the evening and early morning, roughly 1500 tons of stone and sand were piled at the so-called Water House on a canal. The dam is tight, affirmed the city. However, these measures interrupted the city's water supply. "Consequently, rescue teams are currently attempting to rescue the fish residing in the canals," continued the city officials. Approximately 10,000 liters of water per minute were pumped into the canals and firefighting water was supplied.
Words of caution for basements and underground garages
Cities cautioned residents against entering specific locations. "We implore you to refrain from entering cellars and underground garages in the inner city and in Oberesslingen. In addition, please avoid areas directly alongside the Neckar," requested the city of Esslingen. The city administration continued to monitor water levels. "Please ensure to obtain information regularly from this website and the media," stated the city's official website.
Landslides in the Black Forest
Floods in the Black Forest added to the region's struggle. The effects of the landslides were noticeable. The sections of land sliding posed an additional challenge for emergency teams. Road closures and flooded streets were visible across the region. The authorities, as well as ancillary aid workers, continued their efforts to safeguard the well-being of the residents. Though the situation remained precarious, assistance from the government and outside organizations remained readily available.
Heavy rains in Black Forest led to issues: Multiple landslides in Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, with land masses shifting along country roads in Villingen-Schwenningen, causing closures. Residents needed to be rescued with inflatable boats as floodwaters reached 1.80 meters in a street. The district of Tuttlingen also suffered from various landslides. Flooding affected towns like Aldingen, Gosheim, and Denkingen, with a landslide blocking a valley road.
State government offers support
The state government went to visit two areas stricken by floods. Winfried Kretschmann, Minister President of Baden-Württemberg, and Thomas Strobl, State Interior Minister, were going to assess the situation in Meckenbeuren in the Bodenseekreis and Erbach in the Alb-Donau-Kreis. Kretschmann stated the state was ready to assist those impacted: "We will do our utmost to assist those hurt by the flood." He also thanked emergency responders for their efforts.
Travel difficulties due to weather damage
Railway travel across southern Germany was still significantly affected by the weather. The German Railway advised against visiting flooded areas in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and postponing non-urgent travel. They also warned passengers to expect high occupancy in trains that were still running. Overnight accommodations were set up in Stuttgart, Nuremberg, and Munich for travelers.
Promising forecast: brighter days on horizon
While heavy rain could continue in Upper Swabia and back-to-back thunderstorms or storms in the Allgäu area, DWD (German Weather Service) forecasters anticipate better weather on Monday for the rest of Baden-Württemberg. "Sun is expected to break through, with sunshine during the daytime," a DWD expert noted on Monday. This good news also extended to regions around state capital Stuttgart that have endured recent flooding.
Estimated rainfall for Oberschwaben: 5-15 liters per square meter from late Sunday to Monday evening. Allgäu region, bordering Bavaria, faces local rainfall up to 35 liters per square meter. The forecast offers improved conditions for Tuesday and Wednesday in these regions.
