Ice will be retrieved following a morning landslide at 08:30.
A landslide-hit ICE train in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Baden-Wuerttemberg, is expected to be recovered in the morning. The regional train can't pass through the affected route, a railway official stated. A rescue locomotive sits on the second track of the route to aid in the recovery efforts. It's uncertain how long the roadblock will last. In the meantime, the regional train manages to pass by the ICE train. On Saturday night, two carriages of an ICE train with 185 passengers aboard derailed due to a landslide in Schwaebisch Gmuend.
08:16 Person missing in SchrobenhausenA person is missing in Schrobenhausen. Reportedly, the person was in the basement of a house when the flooding occurred. The basement and part of the upper floor are now submerged underwater, according to a spokesperson for the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district office. Rescue teams cannot presently access the house.
07:44 Firefighter passes away in floods in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Upper BavariaA firefighter perished in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, Upper Bavaria. He capsized with three colleagues in a rescue boat and was found dead the next morning, a district office spokesperson reported.
07:29 Flooding moves downstream - more level 4 alertsIn Bavaria, additional level 4 flood warnings are being recorded at various gauges. The focus is still on the southern Donau tributaries of Gunz, Mindel, Zusam, Schmutter, Paar, Abens, Ilm, and Amper, along with the upper Danube. The peaks were achieved overnight. The flooding is transitioning downstream - from Swabia towards Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate. Possibilities for affected areas include Neuburg, Kelheim, Regensburg, and Straubing. The peak wave is projected to reach these regions early next week. Affected areas are anticipated to include Mühlried in the Schrobenhausen district and Manching and Geisenfeld in the Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm district, as well as Abensberg in the Kelheim district.
06:54 Meteorological service forecasts additional heavy rain in the southIn many regions of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, there's a prediction of further thunderstorms with heavy rain from the German Weather Service (DWD) on Sunday. According to the DWD's morning forecast, thunderstorms with heavy rain are expected from noon till late Monday night. There could be another round of flooding and basements being flooded again. Additionally, there's a potential for damage from lightning strikes.
05:39 Augsburg district expands evacuation callsIn the flooded regions of the Bavarian district of Augsburg, authorities are expanding evacuation recommendations. Residents of communities like Kühlenthal and Allmannshofen are urged to leave their homes promptly, the Integrated Control Center said early in the morning. Buses are being provided for individuals who can't leave the areas themselves. Other regions in the district were also instructed to vacate their homes on Saturday evening and through the night. Affected areas mostly border the Schmutter River, a tributary of the Danube.
05:05 Wiesbaden braces for rising water levelsAuthorities in Wiesbaden are taking precautions against rising water levels on the Rhine and Main rivers. In the district of Kostheim, a flood barrier has been established, the fire department indicated early in the morning. In the Rhine-side district of Schierstein, a pump has been installed. Parking lots near the river should be avoided in the upcoming days, the fire department cautioned further. It's not anticipated that more measures will be necessary at this time.
04:04 Train service suspended between Stuttgart and MunichA landslide in the Baden-Wuerttemberg town of Schwäbisch Gmünd has resulted in the termination of long-distance train services between Stuttgart and Munich. A railway official couldn't predict in the early morning when the railroad would reopen. The landslide obstructs the bypass between Aalen and Stuttgart, as there was no long-distance train traffic between Ulm and Augsburg due to flooding in the south, and long-distance trains were rerouted.
03:13 THW in Ulm fills 30,000 sandbagsThe Technical Relief Organization (THW) in Ulm stuffed sandbags for flooded and flood-threatened areas in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria overnight. THW's head of logistics, Bernd Urban, announced that 30,000 sandbags will be distributed. "We can currently fill 400 sandbags per hour." Sandbags are being requested from various affected areas in southwestern Germany and neighboring regions in neighboring states. The continuous rainfall has led to higher water levels at multiple locations in Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria.
The Bavarian Red Cross is dispatching emergency water rescue teams from Unterfranken to assist with the ongoing flood crisis in Swabia. These rescuers, trained for flood relief operations, will be deployed in the severely impacted district of Gunzburg. The teams consist of two boat and diving units each. Several bodies of water in the Swabian district have reached levels comparable to a hundred-year flood, which strikes an area approximately once every century.
In Schwäbisch Gmünd, West Germany, an ICE train with 185 passengers lost control due to a landslide, resulting in two of its wagons derailing at approximately 11:20 p.m. No passengers were injured, and they are currently being transported to a nearby daycare while awaiting transfer to Plüderhausen by bus. The affected area's landslide measured around 30 meters wide.
Elsewhere, a car was struck by a landslide in Schwäbisch Gmünd during the evening. No injuries were reported to the driver. The landslide occurred alongside both the affected county road and the railway line. The city lies about 50 kilometers east of Stuttgart, and the area has seen heavy rainfalls since Friday, affecting multiple regions in Baden-Württemberg.
Neu-Ulm city officials report that they have successfully navigated the peak of the flood in both the Danube and Iller rivers. While the 100-year flood was anticipated, it did not occur. According to Mayor Katrin Albsteiger, damage assessments will be conducted once the situation stabilizes. Two streets, the Danube and Iller riverbanks, and the riverside bike paths will remain closed until further notice.
As of 11:23 p.m., the Munich Fire Department issued a warning for the Isar riverbank due to dangerously high water levels. They have also closed two popular walking paths alongside the river. The river has reached Meldestufe 2, which indicates flooding on unbuilt land or traffic disruptions due to elevated water levels on roads.
In Schrobenhausen, Upper Bavaria, authorities are preparing to evacuate 670 residents from the town's Mühlried district and a street adjacent to the Weilach river. Equipment such as bulldozers and boats are being utilized, while a citizen hotline has been established to handle emergencies.
Numerous firefighters were needed in eastern Thuringia, Germany, following heavy rains and thunderstorms. Gera's control center disclosed that the Ronneburg area in the Greiz district has been hit the hardest, witnessing flooded roads, fields, and cellars. A small stream has overflowed near Gera's Liebschwitz district.
Germany's meteorological service (DWD) has noted a slight decline in precipitation in affected or threatened southern regions around 10:45 p.m. A DWD meteorologist expressed hope that "the massive rainfall we had last night will be a thing of the past." However, incoming storms from the north are expected, which may lead to localized flooding, especially in the afternoon on Sunday. The most likely regions to face flooding are the Swabian Alb, an area slightly north of it, and the areas surrounding Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.
Additionally, the district of Freising, Upper Bavaria, has declared a disaster situation due to overflowing rivers and creeks. Amper and Glonn rivers are projected to experience record-breaking water levels, with potential widespread flooding in Hohenkammer and all towns along the Amper. Citizens are advised to prepare for such extreme conditions and, for instance, to empty their cellars. A total of ten Bavarian districts have thus far declared disaster situations.
In Dillingen, the district administration also declared a disaster situation at 9:50 p.m. due to overflowing rivers and creeks. The rivers are projected to reach record-breaking levels in the Amper and Glonn districts, with potential flooding in Hohenkammer and all towns along the Amper. The municipality encourages residents to prepare for this potential situation.
The Dillingen district in the Bavarian region of Swabia is also in crisis due to continuous rainfall. In the evening, the situation at the Zusam, a tributary of the Danube, worsened. The district administration has reported this. The local crisis staff has requested assistance from the Bundeswehr. Authorities anticipate a 100-year flood on the small river, which could impact the towns of Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. While preparations are being made to release water from the swollen Danube into the Riedstrom, the former natural floodplain of the river, the district administration is asking farmers to keep their livestock in secure stables.
9:59 p.m. Eighth district in Bavaria declares disaster status
The Landkreis Neuburg-Schrobenhausen declares a disaster in Bavaria. The reason is the flooding of the Danube and its tributaries, as the upper Bavarian municipality states. The Water Management Office in Ingolstadt expects level 4 at the Neuburg gauge for the night. The situation is more pressing at the Paar, one of the Danube tributaries, and the Weilach, which in turn flows into the Paar. In the Schrobenhausen district of Mühldorf, the Weilach has already spilled over its banks and flooded a residential area, according to the district administration. Emergency services are preparing for the evacuation of residents, as per reports from district administrator Peter von der Grün. The situation is increasingly tense, especially in the southern part of the district. Von der Grün emphasizes that the protection of roads, bridges, and paths is top priority. "Only then can the fire brigade continue to be deployed for operations."
8:44 p.m. Life-threatening situation: Red Cross uses helicopters to save people from roofs
The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has rescued two people from the roof of their home in Babenhausen with a helicopter. The spokesperson for the BRK said the two were in a life-threatening situation. The house in the Unterallgäu went at risk of collapsing due to the huge water masses. Other people were evacuated from their homes with inflatable boats. The rescue teams have already saved more than 100 people - including several dozen children.
8:01 p.m. People in various locations near Augsburg are asked to leave their homes
Water rescuers had to save people from their cars, who could not open their doors themselves due to the water masses. According to the spokesperson, these situations can quickly turn fatal due to the current and rising waters in the car.
In several municipalities of the Landkreis Augsburg, people are requested to leave their homes and apartments due to the serious flood situation. Things will worsen in the evening in the northern part of the district, according to a spokesperson for the district administration Augsburg. Regions impacted include parts of Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the entire municipality of Nordendorf. A temporary shelter has been opened at the Augsburg fairgrounds by the government of Swabia.
7:20 p.m. Bundeswehr lends a hand in flood-stricken regions of Bavaria
Bundeswehr soldiers are assisting in the fight against the flood in Bavaria. "The Bundeswehr is aiding the two districts of Günzburg and Aichach-Friedberg after they made an official request," says a spokesperson for the Bavarian Bundeswehr command to Antenne Bayern. "In the Günzburg region, blankets and mattresses are being handed out. In the Aichach-Friedberg district, about 50 female and male Bundeswehr soldiers are expected in the coming hours. In addition, two trucks of the Bundeswehr are in service."
6:58 p.m. Federal Interior Minister Faeser provides further aid for flood-affected areas in South Germany
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser provides further support to the regions impacted by the floods in South Germany. "Due to the heavy, persistent rainfall and impending flooding, the THW is prepared to deploy additional personnel nationwide," the SPD politician says in Berlin, referring to the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW). "We will continue to assist the affected federal states with all available resources." With Saturday evening, Faeser reported that 520 rescuers and volunteers from the THW were busy. They've saved people, secured dikes, and pumped water. Faeser also thanked all volunteers: "Thank you very much to all the volunteers who are currently battling the water masses and are tirelessly working to save lives." People in the flood-affected areas of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg should take heed of warnings and instructions from authorities, Faeser advised. "Do not ignore these instructions!"
Climbers stranded at Zugspitze are now safe. 29 individuals were aided by mountain rescuers to Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin at Zugspitzplatt, according to a rescue report. Multiple emergency calls were made as extreme weather conditions and fresh snowfall presented obstacles around 2500 meters above sea level, about 900 meters before Sonnalpin. The mountain rescue team was dispatched. Zugspitzbahn employees with snow groomers were also en route to search for the climbers, as per the Zugspitzbahn spokesperson.
18:42: Dangerous weather conditions for parts of BrandenburgThe German Meteorological Service (DWD) warns of severe storms impending certain Brandenburg regions. Alerts have been issued for Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree districts up until the evening. Dangers include lightning strikes, falling trees or high-voltage lines, fallen objects, rapidly flooded roads, landslides, or hail.
18:11: Flooded motorway - A3 partially closed.The A3 motorway in Bavaria near Regensburg is shut down in both directions, approximately 10 km between the exits of Parsberg and Beratzhausen. The roadways are drenched, according to the Upper Palatinate Police Presidium. A police representative said, "The water continues to flow onto the motorway from the fields." Authorities including the Autobahnmeisterei, fire department, and police are present. Traffic will be rerouted, as per a spokesperson.
17:51: Evacuation at the prison in MemmingenA flooding threat forces the evacuation of the Memmingen prison in Bavaria. The approximately 150 inmates will be temporarily moved to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. The Memminger Ach, a small river that has transformed into a fierce current and poses a flood threat to the prison since it directly fronts the jail, now partially submerges the outdoor courtyard. There's a risk of power failure due to flooding, thus the prison administration decided on the move. Police arrived with various emergency vehicles to initiate the evacuation. Ultimately, the authorities had to navigate flooded streets as the approach was already flooded. The fire department used pumps to eliminate water from the prison.
17:35: Torrential rain raises water levelsPersistent rain amplifies water levels at several gauges in Swabia to stage 4. In Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate, rivers are overflowing. Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), as reported by the Flood Warning Service (HND), have reached stage 4. Dasing (Paar) is also expected to reach stage 4. Nattenhausen (Günz) and Dasing (Paar) indicate century-floods.
The Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) will likely reach peak level 3 on Saturday/Sunday, while water levels in the lower Iller are already diminishing. In the northern Donau tributaries (Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmühl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab), select gauges have stage 1 and 2 overflows with further amplification. Between Neu-Ulm and Kelheim, water levels are expected to rise to stage 3 throughout the day, like Günzburg, Donauwörth, and Neuburg. The Pegel Kelheim is anticipated to follow at night. In the further Donau section to Passau, stage 1 and 2 increases are expected.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=12Mwv4H-2t9e-Q-F25z177Wv-G0fO10QyVUoJE88Z_2qx77q&ll=48.11535791653916%2C9.8370171840000001&z=10
17:23: Usual flight operations at Munich AirportIn spite of heavy rainfall in various parts of Bavaria, regular flight operations endure at Munich Airport. So far, no flights have been terminated. Several reasons encompass standing water beside the runways, the airport slightly higher in elevation, runways dug towards the sides to drain water, and "grooved" runways to facilitate water runoff. Hence, there's minimal risk of aquaplaning, as per airport spokesperson Robert Wilhelm to BR. The airport doesn't foresee significant complications for the remaining weekend.
Minister President Markus Söder surveys the tough circumstances in Swabia. During his trip to Diedorf in the Augsburg district, he praises those aiding and coordinating personnel. Bavaria is faced with an incredible trial, he tells Markus Joachim Herrmann nearby. For citizens, it's a "heavy load." He also cautions, "This is not over yet. Now, it's really getting started." A focus is now on Swabia, supplying entities such as sandbags. "Without helpers," Söder lauds rescuers including firefighters, Bavarian Red Cross, law enforcement, and Technical Relief Organization. These organizations prove outstanding. To citizens, he encourages, "Follow the rules." Evacuation orders shouldn't be disobeyed, he emphasizes; re-entering basements or automobiles' garages shouldn't be attempted.
16:45 German railways crippled by weather & flooding
The extreme weather and flooding in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria also affects the train system. German Railway (Deutsche Bahn) reports, "Interruptions and cancellations throughout southern Germany." A representative elaborates, "Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich's two ICE lines cease operations Saturday. Ulm to Augsburg's tracks also affected." Check Deutsche Bahn's website for updates on disruptions, cancellations, and delays.
16:05 Disaster status in Unterallgäu where phone network split
The Unterallgäu region of Bavaria joins districts in disaster mode. A ripple failing parts of mobile phone networks at Babenhausen's heart. Assistance-needy individuals with no phone access, the district office says, should display white clothing or sheets from windows. Outsized boats are already rescuing residents.
15:57 400 THW crews efficiently combating South Germany's weather disaster
Around 400 Technical Relief Organization (THW) teams are in action, answering the weather disaster. THW in Bonn confirms "extracting water, securing dams, and evacuating inhabitants priorly." They're prepared to pour more forces into the ordeal: "With torrential rains still ahead, the THW will deploy extra THW personnel." Upon arrival, every group aligns 3 exploration vehicles, 3 sewage pumps, a generator, plus an exploratory vehicle and a command unit. Each THW relief group holds the ability to pump 30,000 liters per minute.
15:37 Interactive map exposing all current flood warnings
This map encompasses ongoing flood alerts. The graphic updates routinely. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=12Mwv4H-2t9e-Q-F25z177Wv-G0fO10QyVUoJE88Z_2qx77q&ll=48.11535791653916%2C9.8370171840000001&z=10
15:19 26-strong Alpine-climbing group trapped beneath Zugspitze's plateau
Reports indicate a 26-strong climbing party is stranded near the summit of the Zugspitze. Amid substantial recent snowfall and heavy rain, 60 centimeters amass at Zugspitze, while valley visibility is just 100 meters. And frosty temperatures lurk below zero. Weather conditions discourage climbing; yet, a rescue syndicate was dispatched to find the climbers. It's uncertain why they attempted the trek under these fearsome conditions.
14:55 Donau-Ries District suffering same brunt - Disaster prepared
Donau-Ries District, also situated in Bavaria, experiences a disaster. Their aim: "Converge all." District Administrator Stefan Roßle states, "Maintain compose and avoid low-lying regions." He prepares for predicted water levels.
A breach occurred in a dam and a dike within the Swabian region of Augsburg. Officials from the district disclosed this information. Residents in certain streets of Diedorf must depart from their residences. Evacuation preparations are taking place in Anhausen's section of Diedorf. The district administration of Augsburg mentioned, "It's no longer sufficient to relocate to upper floors. A breach has occurred in Burgwalden's dam, and the dike at Anhauser Weiher has succumbed. All residents of the affected regions should leave their homes immediately and independently within the next hour to the Diedorf Schmuttertalhalle." Authorities also urge individuals to keep away from railway underpasses. Floods could flow there, and there's a danger to life.
Söder and Herrmann are visiting the flood area
Bavaria's Minister-President Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann are visiting the flood-stricken Swabian district of Augsburg on Saturday. The two politicians from CSU came to assess the flood scenario in Diedorf, according to the Interior Ministry's declaration. District Administrator Martin Sailer is also taking part. The visit's location was modified abruptly due to the circumstances. Earlier, the politicians had intended to visit the flooded Fischach. The evacuation of residents is now happening in Diedorf, and the flood situation in Swabia is especially critical. Following the district of Günzburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have now also proclaimed a disaster.
The flood scenario in Meckenbeuren is becoming more intense. The water level of the Schussen river in Meckenbeuren in Bodenseekreis is increasing further. The height reached 4.72 meters in the afternoon, as the municipality's spokesperson announced. The goal is to achieve the peak soon. During the preceding flood in 2021, the river reached 4.50 meters. Normally, it only carries 45 centimeters of water. On Friday night, the community advised approximately 1300 individuals to leave their homes as a precaution. Most of them sought refuge at friends or relatives. Only a very small number of people utilized a shelter. To prevent possible damage from flooding, schools, kindergartens, and halls were emptied out in advance. In the municipality with 14,000 inhabitants, bridges were also closed as a precaution.
