Many firefighting efforts are underway in the eastern part of Thuringia.

Numerous firefighting efforts are ongoing in eastern Thuringia.

Hefty rain and thunderstorms have led to various firefighting operations in eastern Thuringia, as reported by Gera's control center. Specifically, the area surrounding Ronneburg in Greiz is facing the brunt of these weather events. Streets, fields, and basements are now flooded, and a small stream in Liebschwitz has overflowed.

Meanwhile, the German Meteorological Service (DWD) states that flood-prone areas in southern Germany are witnessing a slight relief from heavy rainfall. A meteorologist from DWD mentions that there won't be heavy rainfall volumes as seen last night. However, future showers and thunderstorms approaching from the north could potentially lead to localized flooding on Sunday afternoon. These storms may turn out to be intense and move relatively slowly. If they hit the already saturated ground, flooding will ensue. The most vulnerable places on Sunday are the Swabian Alb, regions north of it, and areas around Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.

The district of Freising has also declared a disaster situation due to swollen rivers and streams. The local administration issued this alert in the evening. The Amper and Glonn rivers are at risk of reaching record-breaking water levels, presenting a significant threat to Hohenkammer and nearby towns along the Amper. Residents have been advised to prepare for a severe flooding event and take preventative measures such as emptying their cellars.

Now, the district administration of Dillingen in southern Bavaria is also declaring a disaster situation due to the persistent rain. The Zusam, a tributary of the Danube, has worsened the situation in the region. The local crisis team has requested assistance from the Bundeswehr. There is a forecast of a 100-year flood on the Zusam, which mainly affects Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. While authorities are planning to divert water from the swollen Danube into the Riedstrom, the former natural floodplain of the Danube, the district administration recommends farmers to safekeep livestock in secure barns.

The Landkreis Neuburg-Schrobenhausen declares a disaster status as the eighth district in Bavaria. The reason is the climbing levels of the Danube and its tributaries. The Water Management Office in Ingolstadt anticipates the Danube level at Neuburg to reach alert level 4 tonight. The situation is exacerbated by the Paar, one of the Danube's tributaries, and the Weilach which empties into the Paar. In southern Schrobenhausen, the Weilach has surpassed its banks and flooded a residential locality. The emergency services are readying to evacuate residents, mentions Landrat Peter von der Grün. The situation is escalating, particularly in the southern part of the district. Von der Grün underlined that safeguarding roads, bridges, and footpaths is crucial. That's necessary to allow the fire department to attend to emergencies.

The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has rescued two people from the roof of their Babenhausen home using a helicopter. Their lives were in danger due to the tremendous water masses, according to a BRK representative. Rescue teams were busy saving people from their houses using airboats. The crews assisted over 100 individuals - including several children.

In several communities in the Augsburg district, authorities are asking residents to leave their homes and apartments due to the imminent flooding danger. The condition is projected to deteriorate in the northern district portion during the evening, reports a district administration spokesperson. Affected zones include Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and Nordendorf. The government of Swabia has established a temporary shelter at the Augsburg fairgrounds.

Water rescuers have had to free people trapped in their vehicles because they couldn't open the doors themselves due to the overwhelming water. The situation could become fatal due to the fast-moving water and the rising water level in the car, according to the spokesperson.

5:48 PM: German Military Assists in Flood-Affected Regions of Bavaria

The German army, or Bundeswehr, is lending a helping hand in the fight against the floods in Bavaria. "Bundeswehr troops are aiding the two districts of Günzburg and Aichach-Friedberg, both of which have requested assistance," explained a spokesperson for the Bavarian Bundeswehr Command. "In Günzburg, they're distributing blankets and field beds. Meanwhile, around 50 male and female soldiers will arrive in Aichach-Friedberg shortly. Additionally, two Bundeswehr trucks are currently in use."

5:20 PM: Interior Minister Nancy Faeser Secures More Support

Interior Minister Nancy Faeser secured additional support for the areas affected by the floods in southern Germany. "With the consistent rain and impending floods, the THW (German Disaster Relief Agency) is prepared to deploy more teams across the country," Faeser commented in Berlin. "We'll continue to assist all affected federal states with all available resources." The THW currently has 520 staff members assisting in the rescue efforts, who have rescued people, reinforced dikes, and removed water. Faeser also expressed her gratitude to all the emergency responders battling the floodwaters. "I'd like to thank all the first responders for their hard work in saving lives," she added. She urged people in flood-impacted areas of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to heed warnings and follow authorities' instructions. "Please take these warnings seriously!"

5:08 PM: 29 Mountain Climbers Rescued at Zugspitze

The mountain climbers in distress at the Zugspitze—previously mentioned in the Live Ticker at 3:15 PM—have been safely rescued. The mountain rescue service brought all 29 climbers to the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin at Zugspitzplatt. Several climbing groups had requested help, unable to continue due to bad weather and fresh snow at approximately 2,500 meters above sea level, about 900 meters away from the Sonnalpin. The mountain rescue service went out while the Zugspitzbahn employees drove out in their snow groomers to aid in the search for the climbers.

5:36 PM: Storm Warning for Portions of Brandenburg

The German Weather Service (DWD) warns about the potential dangers of heavy thunderstorms in parts of Brandenburg. The districts of Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree are on the second-highest alert level until evening. The DWD cautions about possible lightning strikes, falling trees or power lines, falling objects, rapid road flooding, landslides, or hailstorms.

5:11 PM: Water on the Autobahn - A3 Partially Closed

The A3 motorway in Bavaria near Regensburg is partially closed for around 10 kilometers between the exits of Parsberg and Beratzhausen in both directions. The road is flooded, said a spokesperson for the Upper Palatinate police. "The water is pushing onto the motorway from the fields." The traffic police in Regensburg, the Autobahnmeisterei, and the fire department are all present at the scene, with the spokesperson indicating that traffic would be redirected.

5:01 PM: Evacuation of Prison in Memmingen

Due to the risk of flooding, the prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, is evacuated. The news agency Nonstopnews reported that the prison's 150 inmates would be temporarily relocated to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. The prison is situated on the banks of the Memminger Ach, a river threatening to flood the facility. The report highlighted that parts of the courtyard were already underwater, potentially leading to a power outage. Therefore, prison management opted for the evacuation. Police arrived with numerous emergency vehicles to coordinate the evacuation, which had to navigate through flooded streets as the main entrance had already been flooded. The fire department also used pumps to drain water from the prison.

5:00 PM: Rising Water Levels in Swabia

Heavy rain caused the water levels to rise to level 4 at various gauges in Swabia. The rivers in Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate are also swelling. The Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), and Fischach (Schmutter) gauges have already seen water reach level 4, according to the Flood Warning Service. The same goes for Dasing (Paar). The river Regen in Cham, Upper Palatinate, is also expected to reach level 4. Hundred-year floods are reported in Nattenhausen (Günz) and Dasing (Paar).

The gauge Wiblingen (Iller) will likely reach its peak with a level 3 reading soon, with water levels already receding in the lower Iller. The tributaries Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmuhl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab feature individual gauges experiencing level 1 and 2 exceedances, indicating a rising trend. From Neu-Ulm to Kelheim, water levels are expected to rise to level 3 multiple times within a day, including in Gunzburg, Donaueworth, and Neuburg. Kelheim is anticipated to follow suit at night. The Donau section towards Passau is predicted to experience increases to levels 1 and 2.

17:23 Despite the rain, flights at Munich Airport continue without interruption

Munich Airport's flight operations continue uninterrupted in the midst of heavy rain across many parts of Bavaria. No flights have been canceled. Airport spokesperson Robert Wilhelm attributed this to several factors. "We see water standing in the meadows adjacent to the runways," explained Wilhelm to BR. The airport was also constructed slightly elevated. Furthermore, the runway slopes towards the sides, allowing water to drain more easily. And the runways have "grooves," or grooves designed to accelerate water runoff. As a result, there's no danger of aquaplaning, Wilhelm advised the Bavarian broadcaster. The airport anticipates no major complications for the rest of the weekend.

17:07 Söder: "The situation is really intensifying"

Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder observed the circumstances in the seriously affected region of Swabia. At Diedorf in the Augsburg district, Söder thanked the volunteers and authorities for their assistance. Söder called Bavaria crisis-proven and acknowledged the "extraordinary burden" on citizens. He added, "This is not over yet. The situation is really intensifying." The focus of the storm remains on Swabia, resulting in the gathering of resources such as sandbags. "Without the helpers, we wouldn't stand a chance," pleaded Söder with the rescue services, such as the fire department, Bavarian Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization. They have all demonstrated exceptional dedication. He stressed, "Please adhere to the regulations." Evacuation orders should be followed instead of attempting to leave basements or drive cars out of garages.

16:35 Railway services disrupted by storms and floods in South Germany

South Germany's storms and floods have also disrupted rail services. Deutsche Bahn confirms disruptions and cancellations in South Germany. Two ICE lines are particularly impacted, according to a spokeswoman, prompting the cancellation of all trains between Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich all day on Saturday due to the flood. The line between Ulm and Augsburg is also affected. Further information on track closures, cancellations, and delays can be found on the Bahn website.

16:12 Disaster situation declared in Unterallgäu - Residents in need should display white flags

The disaster situation now includes the Bavarian district of Unterallgäu. In Babenhausen's town, the mobile phone network has failed. Residents in need of help unable to make emergency calls should display a white cloth or flag outside their windows or make themselves visible at the window to attract attention to their need for assistance, the district administration suggests. In Babenhausen, people are being rescued from their homes using inflatable boats.

15:57 400 THW troops deployed in South Germany

The Techical Relief Organization (THW) in Bonn reports deploying around 400 forces in South Germany to address storm damage. They are engaged in tasks like pumping water, reinforcing dikes, and evacuating people cautiously. "Due to the persistent and, at times, heavy rain, the THW is prepared to dispatch more THW teams," reports the THW. In the affected regions, mobile water level sensors will be set up and monitored. "Considering the latest weather forecasts and imminent flooding in the coming hours, the THW is prepared to deploy additional THW troops." Each team of 40 THW forces operates three sewage pumps, a generator, an exploratory vehicle, and a command center. They can pump up to 30,000 liters of water per minute.

15:37 All current flood warnings visualized on one map

This map showcases all current flood warnings. The graphic gets updated regularly.

15:15 Report: 26-member mountain climbing group trapped below Zugspitze

A group of 26 mountain climbers seems to be trapped close to the summit of Zugspitze. As per reports from BR, around 60 cm of fresh snowfall has hit Zugspitze in the past few hours while there's constant rainfall in the valley. Temperatures are freezing, making the visibility only about 100 m. Multiple rescue teams are in action right now, trying to find the climbers within the blizzard, according to BR, citing the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Mountain Rescue Service. These tired climbers might not be equipped for the harsh conditions suitably. It's unclear why they attempted climbing Zugspitze with such a dangerous weather forecast.

14:52 Donau-Ries District declares crisis

The Donau-Ries District in Bavaria has announced a state of emergency. This decision is supposed to help in bringing everyone together and being prepared with necessary resources to manage the impending high-water levels, says District Administrator Stefan Rössle in a statement. "It's crucial to stay calm and avoid areas that are low-lying as much as possible," the Administrator adds.

14:20 Dam break near Augsburg- Evacuation underway

In the Swabian region of Augsburg, a dike and a dam have suffered damage. The district administration notified this publicly. Diedorf residents in specific neighbourhoods must leave their homes. Steps are being taken to orchestrate an evacuation in Anhausen, part of Diedorf. "It's not advisable to move to higher floors," theistrict administration of Augsburg warns. A dam fractured in Burgwalden, and a dike at Anhauser Weiher's edge came apart. All residents in the impacted regions are being asked to leave their homes on their own within the following hour. Authorities also recommend avoiding train underpasses. Flooding may occur there, putting lives at risk.

Söder and Herrmann head to the flood site

Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann are visiting the flood-affected areas in the Swabian district of Augsburg on Saturday. The two CSU politicians are eager to witness the flood situation firsthand, according to the Interior Ministry. District Administrator Martin Sailer is also part of the visit. The spot of the visit was moved at the last minute due to the exigencies. Earlier, the politicians were planning to visit Fischach. In Diedorf, the residents' evacuation is currently being planned. The flood situations are especially alarming in the Swabian region. Following Günzburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have now also declared a state of emergency.

The flood crisis in Meckenbeuren deteriorates

The flood situation in Meckenbeuren in the Bodenseekreis is worsening. Meckenbeuren spokesperson reported that the Schussen river was at a height of 4.72 m in the afternoon. It is anticipated that the pinnacle would be reached soon. The river reached a height of 4.50 m during the previous flood in 2021. Typically, the river flows at a minimum level of 45 cm. On Friday night, the city asked around 1,300 residents to leave their homes as a precaution. Majority of them went and stayed with friends or family. A minor percentage stayed in the emergency shelter. To prevent potential damage from flooding, schools, kindergartens, and community halls were cleared out in advance. In the municipality with 14,000 residents, bridges were also closed as a precaution.