The water level in Saxony's Elbe River ascends to warning level 1.
In neighboring countries to the south and east, they're gearing up for a century's worth of flooding.remarkably, flooding has also hit Saxony and Bavaria in Germany, but it's not predicted to cause any major disasters. The Carolabridge, which partially collapsed in Dresden, seems to have avoided further issues.
Central and Eastern Europe is experiencing heavy rain, leading to increasing water levels in some areas. The town of Schöna on the Elbe in Saxony surpassed the warning level of 1 (four meters) by late afternoon. The water level is being closely observed, with next Thursday marking the anticipated peak of the flood. Following this, the water levels should decrease. Riesa is expecting an Elbe rise close to the level 3 alarm, and the same might happen in Torgau.
Dresden received some good news as the fire brigade stated that clearing debris from the partially collapsed Carolabridge along the riverbank would be completed by Saturday evening. The remaining bridge parts in the river are not expected to pose any significant threat to the flood situation, according to René Herold, head of the city's environmental office.
The Saxon State Centre for Flood Control anticipates an alarm level 3 exceedance in the Lusatian Neiße's catchment area, which shares a border with Poland. The Brandenburg State Environment Agency also issued flood warnings up to level 4 for the Oder river catchment. Further warnings, albeit of lower levels, were issued for the Elbe, Spree, Black Elster, and other rivers. The Brandenburg warnings will be clarified on Monday.
Meanwhile, in southern and southeastern Bavaria, people are securing sandbags after numerous hours of rain, as floods pose a threat or groundwater pressure increases. Certain train connections have been halted, underpasses closed, and fields flooded. In Passau, specific sections of the old town have been cordoned off as a precautionary measure.
The flood's peak is anticipated to reach Passau by Sunday morning. The Danube is expected to hit around 7.90 meters, while the Inn will reach approximately 5.50 meters. This would surpass Passau's level 3 warning of four levels. However, massive flooding in Passau is not expected.
The Bavarian Flood Control Centre does not anticipate any dramatic developments in the state, even with more expected rainfall. The majority of the precipitation has already occurred. The flood's progression is being slowed down due to snowfall in the mountains instead of rain in numerous areas. Nonetheless, aside from Passau, level 3 is also expected at some other locations in the Isar and Inn's catchment areas. As of the afternoon, only the Cham district in the east of the Free State and Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen in the south have had a flood warning issued for built-up areas.
The danger was considerably more severe in the Czech Republic, Austria, and other Central and Southeastern European countries. Emergency status was declared in several locations. Four casualties were reported due to flooding in Romania, and there were significant damages and occasional severe traffic disruptions in multiple places.
Despite the significant flooding in neighboring countries, Bavaria in Germany is also experiencing floods, although they are not predicted to cause major disasters like in other areas. In response, people in southern and southeastern Bavaria are securing sandbags and taking necessary precautions.
