Residents in various locations around Augsburg are urged to evacuate their dwellings.
In some areas within Augsburg district, residents have received orders to vacate their homes and apartments due to severe flooding. Authorities expect the situation to deteriorate in the northern part of the district later this evening, according to a spokesperson for the district administration. Areas affected include Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the entire municipality of Nordendorf. The Swabian government has set up an emergency shelter at the Augsburg fairgrounds.
At 19:48, Bundeswehr troops are assisting flood victims in Bavaria. The military is distributing tarps and camp beds in Günzburg, while approximately 50 soldiers are scheduled to arrive in Aichach-Friedberg as "helping hands" in the coming hours. In addition, two Bundeswehr trucks are being utilized.
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has pledged additional support to the flood-stricken regions in Southern Germany. She informed that the Technical Relief Organization (THW) is prepared to deploy more personnel. As of Saturday evening, 520 THW volunteers and helpers are actively involved. So far, they have saved people, reinforced dikes, and pumped water out. Faeser expressed her gratitude to all those engaged in fighting the floodwaters. "I would like to thank all those who are tirelessly working to save lives." She urged residents in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg to heed the warnings and instructions of the authorities. "Please take these warnings very seriously!"
Twenty-nine climbers stranded at Zugspitze were rescued. The mountain rescue service guided them to the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin at Zugspitzplatt. The climbers were part of various groups and could not proceed due to the harsh weather and heavy snow at around 2500 meters above sea level, about 900 meters before the Sonnalpin. Employees of the Zugspitzbahn were also on their way with snow groomers to search for the climbers, according to a Zugspitzbahn spokesperson.
A heavy storm warning has been issued for parts of Brandenburg, as reported by the German Weather Service (DWD). The districts of Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree are under the second-highest warning level until nightfall. The DWD warns of possible lightning strikes, falling trees or power lines, falling objects, fast road flooding, landslides, or hail.
The Autobahn A3 in Bavaria near Regensburg is partially closed for approximately ten kilometers between the exits of Parsberg and Beratzhausen in both directions. The road is inundated with water, according to the Upper Palatinate police department. "The water is pressing from the fields onto the motorway," says a spokesperson. The traffic police in Regensburg, fire department, and police are on site. Traffic will be diverted, reports a spokesperson.
A prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, has been evacuated due to the threat of flooding, reported by the news agency Nonstopnews. The 150 inmates will be temporarily relocated to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. The prison is directly in front of the Memminger Ach - a small river that has now become a raging stream and threatens to flood the prison. Portions of the courtyard are already submerged, which could lead to power outages, leading to the decision for evacuation. The police were summoned with numerous emergency vehicles to perform the evacuation. The evacuation eventually had to be completed over flooded streets, as access was already flooded. The fire department was present with pumps to drain water from the prison.
5:35 PM: Relentless rain raises water levels to 4 at various gauges in Swabia
The persistent downpour is causing elevated water levels with overflowing rivers in Swabia. In Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate, waterways are growing larger. Level 4 overflows have been reported at gauges in Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), as reported by the flood warning service (HND). In Dasing (Paar), level 4 is expected as well. The same goes for the Regen River in Cham in the Upper Palatinate. Century-level floods are observed at the gauges in Nattenhausen (Günz) and Dasing (Paar).
The Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) is set to reach its peak at level 3 on Saturday-Sunday. Meanwhile, water levels in the upper Iller tributaries are already receding. There are individual gauges in the northern Danube tributaries Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmühl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab with level 1 and 2 overflows and an increasing trend. Between Neu-Ulm and Kelheim, water levels are projected to climb to level 3 by Sunday. The Pegel Kelheim follows suit later that night. In the Danube section leading to Passau, increases to levels 1 and 2 are anticipated.
5:23 PM: Regular operations at Munich Airport
Despite the heavy rain in numerous regions of Bavaria, the operations at Munich International Airport remain smooth. To date, no flights have been terminated. Airfield spokesman Robert Wilhelm explains to BR their rationale: "We notice water standing by the runways." The airport is situated elevated. Furthermore, the runway is angled downwards to let water drain out. "Additionally, the runways come equipped with grooves to facilitate faster water drainage." Consequently, aquaplaning is not an existing worry. Regarding the weekend's proceedings, the airport predicts no major inconveniences, according to the BR article.
5:07 PM: "Things are really gearing up now," Söder
While touring Diedorf in the Augsburg district, Bavarian Premier Markus Söder examines the situation. He commends the contributors and authorities in Diedorf. He lauds Bavaria's "crisis-proof" status. However, Söder acknowledges the "severe strain" as a burden for citizens. "This is not over yet," he states in the company of Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann. "Things are ramping up now." The epicenter of the storm is presently in Swabia. Hence, resources such as sandbags are being amassed for the area. "Without the volunteers, we would have no hope," Söder tells the emergency services such as fire department, Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization. They have all been displaying commendable dedication. He urges the population: "Comply with the rules." Evacuation mandates should be respected instead of going to the basement or attempting to drive out of the garage.
4:35 PM: No more trains in place
The torrential rain and floods in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria have also disrupted rail travel. Deutsche Bahn reveals the disruptions and train malfunctions in South Germany. Two ICE rail lines are significantly affected, a spokeswoman reports. There will be no trains running between Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich on Saturday due to the incoming flooding. The Ulm-Augsburg line is also impacted. For more specific information on shutdowns, transport malfunctions, and delays, consult Bahn's website.
4:12 PM: No more trains in Unterallgäu - Babenhausen residents in need should display a white sheet
The disaster state now encompasses the Bavarian district of Unterallgäu. In Babenhausen, a portion of the mobile phone network has collapsed. Residents who need assistance and can't make a call should display a white sheet or cloth in their windows to signal their need, advises the district administration. In Babenhausen, people are currently being rescued from their homes with inflatable boats.
4:57 PM: 400 THW personnel active in South Germany
In the face of the unfavorable conditions in South Germany, approximately 400 THW (Technical Relief Organization) members are currently on duty. The THW in Bonn reports this. They're pumping water, fortifying dams, and carrying out preventive evacuations. "Due to the continuous and at times heavy precipitation, the THW is primed to dispatch further forces," it says. In the impacted areas, mobile water level gauges will be deployed and monitored, the THW adds. "Given the additional weather projections and impending floods in the subsequent hours, the THW anticipates calling more THW forces." Units are on standby across the country. Each task force, comprising 40 THW members, includes three sewage water pumps, a generator, an exploration vehicle, and a command post. Each task force can pump up to 30,000 liters of water per minute.
3:37pm: Check out these flood warnings on this map
This map displays all recent flood warnings. The visuals are continuously updated.
3:15pm: Stuck: 26 people struggling to climb Zugspitze peak
A team comprising 26 individuals is said to be stranded several hundred meters below the summit of Zugspitze. As BR reported, over the past few hours, 60 centimeters of snow have accumulated on Zugspitze, while heavy rainfall occurs in the valleys. Temperatures are sub-zero degrees, and the visibility is around 100 meters at best. Several rescue teams are sent out to scour the snowy landscape for the climbers, BR informed us, referring to the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Mountain Rescue Service. The group is thought to be tired and likely not well-equipped. It is not clear why they attempted ascending Zugspitze disregarding the inclement weather forecast.
2:52pm: Landkreis Donau-Ries declares a state of emergency
Landkreis Donau-Ries in Bavaria has proclaimed a state of emergency. The intention behind this measure is "to gather all the resources in one place and arrange things more quickly and efficiently in light of the expected water levels," District Administrator Stefan Roßle explains in a declaration. "It's crucial to remain calm and avoid low-lying areas as much as possible at this moment."
2:20pm: Dam rupture near Augsburg - Evacuation imminent
A dam and a dike have burst in the Swabian region of Augsburg. The administration of the district has made this announcement. The residents of specific streets in Diedorf are required to vacate their houses. An evacuation plan is in motion for the Anhausen district of Diedorf. "Moving to higher floors is not enough at this point." In Burgwalden, a dam has shattered and a dike on the Anhauser Weiher is compromised. All residents of the impacted zones are instructed to get out of their homes without further delay. The authorities are also advising people to steer clear of railway subterranean passages. Flooding might ensue there, posing a serious threat to life.
Government leaders Markus Soeder and Joachim Herrmann of Bavaria are set to visit the flood-hit region in Swabia on Saturday. The two CSU politicians aim to observe the flood situation in Diedorf firsthand, as the Interior Ministry divulged. Augsburg district leader Martin Sailer is accompanying them on the trip. The location was modified at short notice due to the circumstances. Originally, the politicians were planning to go to Fischach, which is also inundated. In Diedorf, evacuation precautions for residents are underway. The flood scenario is gravely critical in the Swabian region. After the district of Günzburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have now declared an emergency.
Tense situation prevails in Meckenbeuren
The water level at the Schussen river in Meckenbeuren inside the Bodenseekreis is increasing even more. At midday, the level hit 4.72 meters, according to a municipal representative. It is forecasted that the crest will be reached sooner or later. During the 2021 flood, the river reached 4.50 meters. Regularly, it houses only 45 centimeters of water. By evening on Friday, the municipality advised about 1,300 individuals to leave their homes as precaution. Most individuals went to stay with friends or relatives. Some minor ones used temporary shelters. Prior to the flood, community buildings such as schools, kindergartens, and party halls were emptied out to prevent destruction from floodwaters. In the 14,000-people strong municipality, bridges were also closed as a precaution.
Read also:
- international aid organizations have been called upon to support the affected residents in Augsburg due to the influx of displaced people and the damage to residential buildings caused by the flood.
- A live ticker is being widely used to monitor the flood situation in Augsburg and other parts of Southern Germany, providing real-time updates on areas affected, evacuation orders, and the deployment of emergency services.
- In the aftermath of the flooding, international organizations and various local and national authorities are expected to collaborate to assess the damage and develop long-term plans for repairing and reinforcing flood-prone residential buildings and locations in Augsburg and the surrounding regions.
