Inundation of water submerges areas. - Two fatalities in Bavaria due to flooding incidents
Two lives have been claimed by the flooding in Bavaria, with more potential losses on the way. Cleanup efforts have started in certain areas, but the situation may not improve on Monday. "The situation is still severe, critical, and tense," said Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) on Monday in Upper Bavaria's Reichertshofen. The damages continue to threaten to cave or break, and the worst has yet to reach the east. "The flood is now moving," he commented - moving towards Regensburg. The city had declared a state of emergency earlier that day.
A second casualty in the flood catastrophe in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg has been confirmed. Rescue workers have discovered a body in the cellar of a severely flooded Upper Bavarian house in Schrobenhausen. The woman was a 43-year-old who was reported missing, the police revealed. Earlier, the "Donaukurier" and "Bild" reported this.
This is the second known casualty from the floods in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. On Sunday morning, a rescue worker was found dead in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm in Upper Bavaria, who had drowned while carrying out a rescue mission. The man was on a boat rescue mission with three colleagues.
A second firefighter is still missing in Bavaria. The 22-year-old was en route with a boat from the DLRG water rescue in the Swabian Offingen during the night from Saturday to Sunday. The boat with five rescue teams was capsized due to strong currents. Four rescue crews aged between 24 and 70 managed to save themselves and remain unharmed. Search and rescue teams from the voluntary fire brigade, the DLRG water rescue, the water police, the Bundeswehr, and the police are now searching for the 22-year-old.
A passenger ship has been evacuated in Deggendorf in Lower Bavaria due to the flood. Over 140 people were to be disembarked from the ship since the afternoon, reported a spokesperson for the district administration on Monday. The ship could not continue its journey due to flooding on the Danube. Most of the passengers were seniors. The district declared a disaster alert on Monday, as announced by Landrat Bernd Sibler (CSU) on Instagram. The aim is to improve the coordination of measures.
More than 3000 people are currently in evacuation, with numbers increasing. Söder highlighted that in Reichertshofen. Around 20,000 helpers are active. So far, more than 50,000 have been involved since the weekend.
Solace was offered by Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He and Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (both SPD) accompanied Söder to the flooded Reichertshofen on Sunday. Scholz expressed solidarity with the victims of the floods in southern Germany. Such acts of solidarity are "what we need as humans," according to Scholz. "We'll do our best to help as quickly as possible with the federal government's abilities." Solidarity is "a habitual practice." "That's just how it is and that's Germany."
Scholz also urged more attention be paid to natural disasters, particularly floods. "This is the fourth time this year I've visited a specific deployment site," he stated, adding that "this is a sign that something is going on." People need to pay more attention to flood protection and climate change efforts. "This is a warning that must be taken from this event and this disaster."
Söder emphasized the need for further expansion of the Polder strategy. "Billions have already been invested in flood protection," he said. "The Polder strategy should be expanded and continued - even if there's strong resistance in affected areas to the establishment of new flood protection measures."
The cabinet of Bavaria will address the flood disaster and swift aid efforts on Tuesday, announced Söder. "The water comes relatively quickly, but the damage is very, very long."
Faeser noted the learning experiences drawn from the Ahrtal disaster. She was impressed by the excellent cooperation between the rescue forces. She believed that "after the Ahrtal, the lessons have been learned, and this works much better in coordination."
Faeser emphasized the significant impact of voluntary work. The man who died while on duty had "saved the lives of others under extreme circumstances," she said. "The great importance of voluntary work is not appreciated enough." She extended her deepest sympathies to the relatives of the man who perished.
Flooding is also expected to intensify in Eastern Bavaria.
Söder stated that there were events that "never happened before." People must dedicate more effort to climate protection and climate adaptation, he said. There is no full coverage insurance against climate change.
The Bavarian cabinet will address the flood disaster and speedy, bureaucratic aid on Tuesday. "The water comes quickly, but the damage is very, very long."
In the meantime, the brunt of the floods shifted towards the east. The Danube's water level is steadily rising, prompting concerns that it may reach the volume seen during the 2002 flood. With a length of 2850 kilometers, the Danube is Europe's second longest river.
Although no immediate relief was expected in Swabia on Monday, there still remained a threat of additional dam breaches due to the violent floods. Residents of Heißesheim and Auchsesheim in the Donau-Ries district were once again urged to evacuate immediately, as the dams could potentially collapse. "The entire settlement area is expected to be inundated," stated the Donauwörth district office following a predicament on Sunday evening. Emergency shelters had been organized. Unfortunately, no impending danger signals were issued for the other previously vacated regions.
The German Meteorological Service (DWD) anticipated substantial rainfall on Monday, particularly in the southern half of Bavaria. A DWD representative in Munich expressed this in a statement.
Furthermore, the DWD predicted that there would be continual rainfall in parts of Swabia and Upper Bavaria on Tuesday night. Approximately 40 to 50 liters per square meter were expected to fall in roughly 18 hours in these areas. In some spots in the Alps, this volume could reach as high as 60 liters per square meter; in Upper and East Allgau, it might even reach up to 65 liters per square meter.
During his visit to Reichertshofen, Söder remarked with hope that the coming days would be managed well. He also emphasized that the state of vigilance remained at a high level.
