The west and south-west of Germany are hit by heavy, persistent rain. Some communities are flooded and there is a risk of landslides. Saarland in particular is affected. The situation is expected to deteriorate on Saturday afternoon.
Due to the heavy rain, the city of Saarbrücken declared a major disaster in the afternoon. The city said there was flooding in some areas. Several buildings in the city would have to be evacuated.
The affected people were asked to take only the essentials with them. Citizens should absolutely avoid spending time outdoors and avoid flooded or threatened sections of traffic routes.
“It just won’t stop raining”
There were more than 300 missions for the police and more than 500 missions for the fire brigade. This involves entire basements, fallen trees and flooded roads. However, no one was injured. “It doesn’t stop raining,” said a spokesman for the state police headquarters in Saarbrücken.
Floods are expected
Police said aquaplaning or flooding was expected on all roads. Numerous streets in Saarland were closed due to the weather. There were also strict restrictions on train and bus traffic.
Sewer partially overloaded
The Baden-Württemberg Flood Prediction Center warned of significantly rising water levels in some Baden-Württemberg rivers, especially the tributaries of the Upper Rhine and the waters in the Neckar river basin. Minor flooding can occur. In individual cases, the sewerage system can also become overloaded. Streets, basements, underpasses and underground parking garages can be flooded.
Cars were swept away by the water
In the French border area with Germany, small rivers burst their banks within a short time after heavy rainfall. Individual cars were swept away by the water. Some roads were closed, including the Autobahn 320 towards Saarbrücken in parts. So far, the floods on Thursday evening and Friday in Lorraine and Alsace have not affected anyone.
France was also hit
As the Metz fire brigade announced on Friday, there were more than 300 actions in about 70 communities in the Moselle region. 270 firefighters responded with approximately 200 vehicles. The region around Saint-Avold and Sarreguemines, which borders the Saarland, was particularly affected.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called on residents to be extremely cautious; a red alert level had been set for the region. There were also huge storms in Northern Italy (see link to article above).
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
