Bad news for those affected by flooding: The German Weather Service (DWD) warns of further heavy rainfall, especially in southern Germany. Extreme amounts of rain were possible, especially in the Stuttgart area, early on Sunday evening, meteorologists in Offenbach said.
There may also be severe thunderstorms with heavy rain in the Alps, but also from Saxony to South Brandenburg and Berlin. At night, the Black Forest, the Swabian Alb and the foothills of the Alps up to the Bavarian Forest can be hit by sometimes heavy thunderstorms and in some areas by heavy rainfall that lasts for several hours.
Also heavy rain on Monday
For Monday morning, meteorologists predict showers in the foothills of the Alps south of the Danube in the morning, followed by increasing thunderstorms from noon, and then also in the Bavarian Forest. Once again there is a chance of heavy rainfall, locally up to 40 liters per square meter per hour.
The flood data so far is dismal: one dead firefighter, two missing people and flooded homes. Tens of thousands of emergency services have pumped out cellars and secured streets and dikes with sandbags. Several districts have declared a disaster alert. A train derailed after a landslide in the state of Baden-Württemberg.
Fire brigade constantly in use
Several streams and rivers in southern Germany burst their banks, and Bavaria was particularly affected. In Bad Wörishofen, west of Munich, for example, 129 liters fell within 24 hours during heavy rain, according to the DWD. The average is 101 liters per month. Fire brigades and other emergency services were constantly at work – pumping out water, closing off areas, but also saving lives.
A 42-year-old firefighter was killed during one such rescue operation in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm in Upper Bavaria. According to the responsible district office, he capsized in the rubber boat during an operation with three colleagues and was found dead on Sunday morning. Another firefighter went missing in Offingen in the Swabia region of Bavaria. The 22-year-old was also traveling in a boat. A woman was probably missing in a flooded cellar in the municipality of Schrobenhausen.
Unpredictable flooding
The disaster alarm was in force in more than ten districts. The situation came to a head on Sunday afternoon in the Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm district. A spokesperson for the fire brigade spoke of an unpredictable flood, “which we have never had to record before”. Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) and Federal Minister of Economic Affairs Robert Habeck (Greens) visited the affected areas. On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to get an idea of the situation. The politicians praised the work of the emergency services.
The extent of the damage could not yet be estimated. Meteorologists and authorities urgently warned of the dangers at an early stage. Accidents mainly occurred on roads, because there was probably too much water on the roads. A man was seriously injured during electrical work at the town hall in Allershausen in the Upper Bavarian district of Freising. The 27-year-old energy company employee received an electric shock, a police spokesperson said.
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.
