In Upper Bavaria, 670 individuals are set to be relocated.

Upper Bavaria: Over 600 individuals required to evacuate

Emergency teams are getting ready to move out approximately 670 residents in the upper Bavarian town of Schrobenhausen. In the region of Mühlried and by the Weilach river, excavators and boats are in use, as per the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district office. The local administration has started a citizen hotline for emergencies. The municipality had earlier declared a disaster condition. District Administrator Peter von der Grün stated, "The situation is especially dire in the southern part of the Upper Bavarian district."

23:03: Multitude of firefighter interventions are ongoing in Thuringia

Several firefighting operations are being underway in Thuringia due to excessive rainfall and violent thunderstorms. The command center in Gera reports. The area around Ronneburg in the Greiz district is bearing the brunt. There are several roads inundated, fields flooded, and basements flooded. In the Gera district, a tiny stream has flooded its banks.

22:45: Heavy rain subsiding in the south - no all-clear yet

The German Weather Service (DWD) announced a minor respite from the persistent heavy rain in the affected or threatened regions in southern Germany. A DWD expert claims, "Tonight we won't have the huge rainfall amount we had last night." However, more showers and thunderstorms are heading in from the north, which could endanger local flooding again in the afternoon on Sunday. These storms could be intense and move at a slow pace. "If they hit the already saturated ground, then there will be flooding," says the expert. The most vulnerable regions by the storms and thunderstorms on Sunday are the Swabian Alb, areas just above it, and the region around Augsburg, Nuremberg, Bamberg, and Regensburg.

22:25: Disaster situation also in Freising

The district of Freising has also proclaimed a disaster situation due to overflowing rivers and streams. According to the local administration in the evening, the Amper and Glonn rivers are experiencing very high water levels, which might create record-breaking levels. The district authority anticipates an enormous flooding in the town of Hohenkammer, as well as other areas along the Amper. Citizens are advised to prepare for such an extreme scenario and, for instance, also unload their cellars. Ten Bavarian districts have now declared a disaster situation.

21:50: Disaster situation in Dillingen district as well

The district office in Dillingen in the Bavarian portion of Swabia is also declaring a disaster situation due to incessant rainfall. During the evening, the situation at the Zusam river, a tributary of the Danube, worsened, reports the authority. The local crisis management team is appealing for help from the Bundeswehr. Officials predict a 100-year flood on the small river, which may affect the adjacent towns of Buttenwiesen and Wertingen. While the authorities are preparing to drain water from the swollen Danube into the Riedstrom, the previous natural floodplain of the river, the district office exhorts local farmers to house their animals safely.

21:09: Eight Bavarian districts declare disaster situation

The district of Neuburg-Schrobenhausen declares a disaster situation as the eighth Bavarian district. The cause is the rising Danube and its tributaries, explains the municipality. The Water Management Office in Ingolstadt anticipates level 4 at the Neuburg gauge for tonight. The situation is even more significant at the Paar, a Danube tributary, and at the Weilach, which streams into the Paar. The Schrobenhausen municipality reveals that the Weilach has already surpassed its banks in the Schrobenhausen district of Mühldorf, inundating a residential area. Emergency services are arranging the evacuation of the residents, as Landrat Peter von der Grün confirms. The situation is alarming, especially in the southern part of the district. Von der Grün specifies, "The protection of roads, bridges, and footpaths is a top priority. Only then can the fire brigade continue working on their missions."

20:34 Critical condition: Red Cross helps people from roof with helicopter

The Bavarian Red Cross (BRK) has airlifted two people from their rooftop in Babenhausen using a helicopter. The BRK spokesperson says the two were in a life-threatening scenario. The house in the district of Unterallgäu was at risk of crumbling due to the overwhelming water masses. Other people were picked up from their homes using inflatable boats. Rescue teams saved more than 100 people - including several children.

20:13 Individuals in several locations near Augsburg are asked to leave their homes

Water rescuers have had to rescue people from their vehicles, as they could not open the doors themselves due to the water masses. The spokesperson warns that such a situation can quickly turn fatal due to the current and the rising water in the car.

In various municipalities of the Augsburg district, residents are being asked to evacuate their homes and apartments due to the rapid flood situation. A spokesperson for the Augsburg district administration predicts that the situation will worsen in the evening, particularly in the northern part of the district. Affected areas include parts of Batzenhofen, Gablingen, Langweid, Eisenbrechtshofen, Biberbach, Allmannshofen, and the entire municipality of Nordendorf. The government of Swabia has set up a temporary shelter at the Augsburg fairgrounds.

7:48pm Bundeswehr aids in flood-stricken areas of Bavaria

Bundeswehr soldiers are assisting in the battle against the floods in Bavaria. "The Bundeswehr is aiding the two districts of Günzburg and Aichach-Friedberg, as both districts have submitted an official request," tells a spokesperson for the Bavarian Army Command to the radio station Antenne Bayern. "In the vicinity of Günzburg, blankets and mattresses are being distributed. In the district of Aichach-Friedberg, approximately 50 female and male Bundeswehr soldiers are expected to arrive in the next few hours. In addition, two Bundeswehr vehicles are being utilized."

7:20pm Faeser secures additional support for affected areas in southern Germany

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser provides further assistance for the regions impacted by the floods in southern Germany. "Due to the relentless heavy rain and impending floods, the THW is prepared to deploy more personnel across the nation," the SPD politician says in Berlin, referring to the forces of the Technical Relief Organization (THW). "We will continue to back the affected federal states with all available resources." According to Faeser, there are currently 520 THW employees and helpers in action. They have rescued people, bolstered dikes, and pumped away water. Faeser also thanked all the volunteers involved: "I'd like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers who are currently combating the water masses and tirelessly working to save lives." Those in regions affected by flooding in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg should heed the warnings and instructions of the authorities, Faeser urged. "Take these warnings very seriously!"

6:58pm 29 hikers rescued from snowstorm at Zugspitze

The hikers who were in distress at the Zugspitze (see Live Ticker entry at 3:15pm) have been saved. 29 individuals have been safely led to the Gletscherrestaurant Sonnalpin at Zugspitzplatt by the mountain rescue service, the mountain rescue service notifies. Multiple groups had made emergency calls. They could not continue as a result of the weather and new snow at roughly 2,500 meters above sea level, just 900 meters before the Sonnalpin. The mountain rescue service was dispatched. Employees of the Zugspitzbahn were also on their way with snow groomers to hunt for the hikers, informs a spokesperson for the Zugspitzbahn.

6:42pm Storm warning for parts of Brandenburg

The German Weather Service (DWD) issues a warning about the hazards of severe thunderstorms for some areas of Brandenburg. For the districts of Dahme-Spreewald, Märkisch-Oderland, and Oder-Spree, the second-highest warning level is in effect until the evening, the DWD reports. There may be lightning strikes, falling trees or power lines, falling objects, rapid flooding of roadways, landslides, or hail.

6:11pm Flooded road - A3 partially closed in Bavaria

The A3 motorway in Bavaria near Regensburg is partially closed for approximately ten kilometers between the junctions of Parsberg and Beratzhausen in both directions. The highway surface is submerged, reports a spokesperson for the Upper Palatinate Police Department. "The water is pushing from the fields onto the motorway." As per the traffic police in Regensburg, the motorway maintenance, fire department, and police are on site. The traffic is being diverted, a spokesman says.

5:51pm Prison in Memmingen evacuated

Due to the flooding risk, the prison in Memmingen, Bavaria, is being evacuated. This is reported by the news agency Nonstopnews. The up to 150 inmates will be temporarily relocated to Landsberg, Kempten, and Augsburg. Right in front of the prison runs the Memminger Ach - a small river that has become a raging torrent and threatens to flood the prison. Parts of the courtyard are already under water. This could result in a power outage, so the prison administration decided on the evacuation. The police arrived with a multitude of emergency vehicles to perform the evacuation. This eventually had to be guided over flooded streets, as the approach was already flooded. The fire department was also in action with pumps to remove water from the prison.

5:35pm Water levels rise to level 4

Rain has caused water levels to reach level 4 in some locations.

Torrential rain is triggering water levels to reach level 4 in various gauges across Swabia. Concurrently, rivers are swelling in both Lower Bavaria and the Upper Palatinate, where several locations have already hit level 4. Noteworthy places that have already reached this level include Neu-Ulm Bad Held (Danube), Hasberg (Mindel), Fleinhausen (Zusam), Fischach (Schmutter), as reported by the flood warning service (HND). Furthermore, Dasing (Paar) and the Regen River in Cham are also expected to reach level 4.

The situation in the Pegel Wiblingen (Iller) anticipates reaching its peak at Meldestufe 3 from Saturday to Sunday, with the water levels currently receding in the lower Iller. In the northern tributaries Wörnitz, Sulzach, Altmühl, Schwarze Laber, and Naab, there are individual gauges displaying level 1 and 2 overflows with a continuous increasing trend. Between Neu-Ulm and Kelheim, the water levels are predicted to rise to Meldestufe 3 throughout the day, impacting areas like Günzburg, Donauwörth, and Neuburg. The Pegel Kelheim should reach this level later in the evening. In the subsequent sections of the Donau, an increase to Meldestufen 1 and 2 is anticipated.

17:23 Regarding Munich Airport operations, they are functioning smoothly.

Despite the overwhelming rainfall in numerous areas of Bavaria, operations at Munich Airport remain unhindered. No flight cancellations have occurred. According to airport representative Robert Wilhelm, there's water in the meadows adjacent to the runways. Additionally, the airport's elevated position helps. The runways are also sunken towards the sides, facilitating water drainage. Furthermore, the runways bear grooves, aiding in water runoff, resulting in no immediate risk of aquaplaning.

17:07 Söder lauds the efforts in Swabia, praises the authorities.

The Minister President Markus Söder is acquainting himself with the grim circumstances in Swabia, visiting the town of Diedorf in Augsburg. In the company of Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann, Söder commends the contributions from local helpers and authorities. "We're crisis-proven," affirms the minister president. He acknowledges the intensity of the predicament, proclaiming it to be an "extreme burden" for residents. Denoting that this crisis is far from over, Söder states, "This is really picking up now."

Since Swabia remains the epicenter of the storm's focus, resources - like sandbags - are being prioritized in this region.

"Without the helpers, we wouldn't stand a chance," pleads Söder, addressing the rescue services such as the fire department, Bavarian Red Cross, police, and Technical Relief Organization, all of whom have expressed remarkable dedication. When addressing residents, he emphasizes, "Please observe the regulations." Obey any potential evacuation commands, avoid returning to your cellars, or making an attempt to drive your car out of the garage.

16:35 Deutsche Bahn reports disruptions and cancellations in South Germany.

Storms and floods are wreaking havoc on rail service in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Deutsche Bahn reports disruptions and train cancellations throughout South Germany. The two ICE lines between Munich, Bregenz, and Zurich, as well as that connecting Ulm and Augsburg, are notably affected. As a Deutsche Bahn spokesperson confirms, there will be no trains on Saturday on the former line due to flooding. The latter line also faces disruptions. Detailed information on track closures, cancellations, and delays can be found on the railway's website.

16:12 Babenhausen undergoes disaster situation; residents seeking aid should display white clothing.

The disaster situation also extends to the Bavarian district of Unterallgäu, where the district of Babenhausen experiences a section of its cellular network collapsing. People in need but unable to make calls should exhibit a white sheet or cloth through their windows or (preferably) be visible at the window to attract attention to their situation. In Babenhausen, individuals are already being extricated from their homes using inflatable boats.

In response to the persistent storms in South Germany, approximately 400 relief teams from the Technical Relief Organization (THW) are actively involved. According to the THW in Bonn, they are presently removing water, safeguarding dams, and recommending proactive evacuations. The THW anticipates deploying more units specifically due to the continuing and sometimes heavy rainfall. Additionally, mobile flood sensors will be deployed and monitored to assess the risk of impending floods. Consequently, relief groups from all over Germany are on high alert, each team having approximately 40 personnel who operate three sewage pumps, a generator, an exploration vehicle, and a command post. Each relief group can clear away around 30,000 liters of water per minute.

15:37 All flood alerts on one map

The map provides a visual representation of all current flood alerts, updated frequently.

15:15 Reports: 26-climber group told to halt ascent below Zugspitze

A group of 26 mountain climbers are reportedly stranded several hundred meters below the Zugspitze's summit. As per BR, 60 centimeters of new snow has accumulated on the mountain while it's raining in the valleys. The temperature is below freezing, and visibility is roughly 100 meters. Multiple rescue teams were sent to locate the climbers in the blizzard, reports BR, quoting the Garmisch-Partenkirchen Mountain Rescue Service. The group appears fatigued and potentially under-prepared. The reason behind their climbing attempt amidst such extreme weather forecast remains unclear.

14:52 Donau-Ries District declares emergency status

The Donau-Ries district in Bavaria has issued an emergency status. This measure is designed to "bring all resources together and streamline our response efforts" according to District Administrator Stefan Roßle in a statement. "It is crucial to maintain composure and avoid low-lying areas," he adds.

14:20 Dam collapse near Augsburg - Evacuation preliminary preparations underway

A dam and an embankment have sustained damage in the Swabian district of Augsburg. The Landratsamt (district administration) discloses this. Residents in selected streets in the town of Diedorf must relocate. Plans for evacuating residents in the Anhausen district of Diedorf are being formulated, informs the Landratsamt Augsburg. "It is no longer adequate to move to higher floors," they state. A dam in Burgwalden and the Anhauser Weiher reservoir's dike have given way. Residents in the affected regions are instructed to leave their homes instantaneously within the next hour and convene at the Diedorf Schmuttertalhalle community hall. Officials advise staying away from railway underpasses as well, as floodwaters may engulf them. The situation poses a significant risk to life.

Bavaria's Minister President Markus Söder and Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann will visit the flood-affected area in Augsburg on Saturday. The two CSU politicians desire to comprehend the flood condition in Diedorf. District Administrator Martin Sailer will accompany them. The location was switched at the last minute due to the developing circumstances. In Diedorf, evacuations are taking place. The flood situation in Bavaria is particularly severe in the Swabian region. After Günzburg, the districts of Augsburg and Aichach-Friedberg have initiated a disaster situation.

The Schussen river's flooding in Meckenbeuren remains an area of concern. The river level attained 4.72 meters in the afternoon, as a municipal representative stated. It is hoped that a peak will be reached soon. During the most recent flood in 2021, the river reached 4.50 meters. Generally, it only carries 45 centimeters of water. On Friday evening, the municipality urged around 1300 individuals to abandon their homes preemptively. Many of them sought refuge with friends or family members. Fewer people opted to use the emergency shelter. To preclude potential harm from floodwater damage, schools, kindergartens, and halls were emptied in advance. In the town with 14,000 residents, bridges were also closed as a safety measure.