Urgent situation - The flooding has lessened, but the aftermath of mud remains.
Following a series of events filled with visuals of flooded basements, sloppy roads, and crushed vehicles, rescue squads are gradually aiming to regain authority over the flooded regions in the southwest. Although minor streams, particularly those in the Stuttgart region, were still surging through certain areas on Monday, officials saw advancements. However, notable exceptions were Oberschwaben and the Allgäu, which remained under strain throughout the day. Evacuation alerts were retracted, and a tremendous number of individuals were allowed to return to their abandoned residences. Having said that, they have yet to fully recover; when the water retires, there will remain heaps of mud, intensive damage, and copious amounts of work to be accomplished.
Interior Minister Strobl: "Clench Down Firmly"
Initially, on Monday, the flood scenario in the vicinity of Stuttgart, as well as in Oberschwaben and the Allgäu, appeared to be in a stable state. However, conditions deteriorated notably along the Rems and Murr rivers and in the Ostalbkreis. By day's end, authorities were able to rescind notices.
Baden-Württemberg's Interior Minister Thomas Strobl (CDU) categorized the flood situation within the state as "tense." During a trip to Meckenbeuren (Bodenseekreis), an area particularly affected, he expressed, "We must hold on and endure." Nonetheless, there's now a sliver of hope that the situation won't aggravate for the southwest.
Notifications terminated on Rems and Murr
Notifications were canceled, for example, in the Rems-Murr-Kreis. The integrated control center conveyed that the alert for flooding was lifted, as well as the preemptory evacuations. Lagoons were being emptied systematically and cautiously. In the night, the district had issued a so-called disaster precautionary alarm due to extraordinarily torrential rainfall. This early stage of the disaster alarm ensures that the deployment of volunteers from emergency services can be guaranteed.
"We've recently experienced two harrowing days with flooding and heavy rain events causing destruction within the district," said District Administrator Richard Sigel. He depicted the devastation. As a result of cleanup operations, the disaster precautionary alarm will persist.
The state of Ebersbach an der Fils remains uncertain
The status in Ebersbach an der Fils is uncertain. The rain induced harm. In photos, there were mounds of mud, furious residents in knee-high boots, and automobiles weighing tons that were moved along as trifles. Multiple vehicles finished on train tracks, and one on a well. On muddy roadways, household items were spotted outside houses.
The whole town was at one time impacted by the inundation, and all streets were closed, reported a spokesman for the local fire department. The districts of Schlechtbach and Klaffenbach were covered in water. The fire department was endeavoring to create access for the townspeople. In this case, the alert for flooding was also lifted.
Ebersbach an der Fils, a community in Göppingen's district located south of Stuttgart, saw some of its residents evacuated from certain avenues. Flooding had engulfed a residential area, as the Göppingen district office informed in the morning. The exact number of individuals affected remained unknown at that time. Further details would be distributed in the afternoon. Water masses also burst through a noise barrier on the federal highway, inundating the lanes. Mainly, the water on the road was from the adjacent Fils River, but also from rainwater canals. The railroad line from Göppingen to Ebersbach was also impacted.
In the Baden-Württemberg Ostalbkreis, the flood scenario escalated in the morning. People were evacuated from sections of the communities of Leinzell, Heuchlingen, and Göggingen during the night. The community of Täferrot was also evacuated. The crisis management team later reassigned the flood scenario from an extreme flooding event to a century flood event. Most of the people could reenter their residences. There's no longer a warning, but it's "a clear sign of improvement," reported the spokeswoman.
A temporary dam in Esslingen
To avert inundation of portions of the historic old town of Esslingen am Neckar, a makeshift dam was constructed. The peak level was anticipated early Monday morning. In the night and on Monday morning, around 1500 tons of stone and sand were stockpiled near the so-called Wasserhaus at a channel. The dam is highly robust, as announced by the city. However, this led to the canals in the innermost city being severed from water supply. "As a result, rescue teams are now attempting to rescue the fish inhabiting the canals," they further elaborated. Around 10,000 liters of water per minute were pumped into the canals, and firefighting water was supplied.
Landslides in the Black Forest
In the Black Forest, landslides caused further disruption. The region already faced challenges from torrential rain, and several locations have reported mudslides. Authorities issued warnings advising drivers to avoid routes in certain areas. Additionally, they cautioned against entering the forests, since the land was forkable: "People may find it appealing to trek through the forests, but the terrain is extremely dangerous."
The intense rainfall wreaked havoc in the Black Forest as well, with multiple landslides occurring in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis. In the Villingen-Schwenningen region, masses of earth slid along a local road and a district road, leading to their closure. In the village, residents had to be whisked away with inflatable boats when the water in one street reached 1.80 meters deep. Additionally, numerous ditches throughout the district were submerged. Aldingen, Gosheim, and Denkingen in the Tuttlingen district were the hardest hit by the flooding. A landslide in Denkingen blocked a country road.
Baden-Württemberg's Minister President, Winfried Kretschmann (Greens), along with Interior Minister Strobl, paid a visit to the community of Meckenbeuren to commend the local authorities for their efforts in managing the disasters. Kretschmann expressed his pride in the area's calm response, stating, "I'm glad to be the Minister President of an orderly community where disasters are handled so professionally." Strobl praised the dedicated staff members, commenting, "The cellar is full, yet they continue to act. That's really what our country is about - not focusing on ourselves, but on the areas in greatest need."
Disruptions and cancellations persist in train traffic. For instance, trains heading towards Munich from Stuttgart were unable to do so. Consequently, trains from Mannheim or Frankfurt concluded their journey in Stuttgart, said a spokesperson. Travelers were advised to stay away from the affected flood areas in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg and to delay unnecessary journeys, as per the spokesperson. Overcrowding should also be anticipated for the trains still operative.
Meteorologists foresee further rain showers, particularly in Upper Swabia and possible thunderstorms or storms in the Allgäu, while the rest of Baden-Württemberg sees more sun exposure. "It's mostly dry, with sunshine even during the day," declared a DWD expert on Monday morning. The same applies to areas surrounding the state capital Stuttgart, majorly impacted by the floods.
In spite of this glass-half-empty outlook, the occasional sight of sunshine offers a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak situation.
