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FIRE

Major wildfire in Hesse sparked by lightning strike

Hundreds of firefighters were battling a blaze in a forest area in the central German state of Hesse on Thursday, thought to have been caused by a lightning strike.

Published: 25 April 2019 11:06 CEST
Major wildfire in Hesse sparked by lightning strike
Flames could be seen in the forest on Wednesday night. Photo: -/LK HEF-ROF/DPA

The major fire in the Seulingswald hill range, north of Fulda near the A4 Autobahn, covers an area of seven hectares – equal to the size of about 10 football pitches – according to police.

The fire broke out late on Wednesday evening following a thunder storm, reported the Hessenschau. Residents in nearby village Ludwigsau alerted the fire brigade.

Smoke and flames engulfing the forest area could be seen from afar.

SEE ALSO: Wildfires rage during Germany's spring heatwave

The police said that no-one was in danger. Although the fire is now under control, trees are still unstable and could fall. Firefighters are to stay at the scene for several hours, a police spokesman said.

At peak times, 400 emergency workers were involved in fighting the blaze. According to a spokesman for the fire brigade, three firefighters were injured during the operation. They were taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation but were discharged after treatment.

“We assume that lightning struck the forest and caused the fire,” said a police spokesman on Thursday morning.

Emergency services during a briefing. Photo: -/LK HEF-ROF/DPA

High risk of forest fires

There have been several wildfires across Germany due to the spring heatwave that has seen temperatures rise to the high 20s.

Earlier in the week, emergency services battled a huge blaze in a forest area covering about 13 hectares in Thuringia. There have also been fires in Brandenburg and Bavaria.

The German Weather Service (DWD) has put forest fire warnings in place in several parts of the country.

Experts said that higher winds increase the risk of wildfires because it can help spread the blaze.

People in Germany have been warned not to smoke in forests, light any fires in natural areas or throw cigarettes out the windows of cars.

The predicted cooler weather in the coming days is expected to reduce the fire risk. 

Vocabulary

Major fire – der Großbrand

Firefighters – die Feuerwehrleute

Kämpfen – to fight

Lightning – der Blitz

We're aiming to help our readers improve their German by translating vocabulary from some of our news stories. Did you find this article useful? Do you have any suggestions? Let us know.

 

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FLOODS

German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

Water levels on the Elbe and Oder rivers in Germany are rising, sparking preparations for floods as the clean-up across central Europe gets underway.

Published: 19 September 2024 10:12 CEST
German communities brace for flooding as water levels continue to rise

As several countries in Europe face the devastating aftermath of severe flooding following torrential rain, communities in some regions of Germany are trying to manage rising water levels. 

According to a forecast by the state flood centre, the water on the Elbe river has not yet reached expected peaks. In the city of Dresden, the Elbe rose above the six-metre mark on Wednesday. There, as well as in Schöna on the border with the Czech Republic, the flood peak is expected on Thursday.

There is a cautious all-clear along other rivers in the east and south of Germany. Further north, however, Brandenburg is looking anxiously at the Oder river, which is expected to bring more water in the coming days.

READ ALSO: Parts of Germany hit by flooding as torrential rain wreaks havoc across central Europe

Flood crisis teams are due to meet in Frankfurt (Oder), located at the border with Poland, and other municipalities in Brandenburg on Thursday. A level 1 flood alert was issued for sections of the river on Wednesday.

According to the State Office for the Environment, floodplains and meadows close to the banks are expected to start flooding, with the areas of the Oder village of Ratzdorf to Eisenhüttenstadt particularly affected.

The state office believes the highest alert level – level 4 – with a water level of around six metres will be reached in the next few days near Ratzdorf, where the Oder reaches Brandenburg territory.

Clean-up work underway in central and eastern Europe

In the flood-hit areas from Poland to the Czech Republic and Austria, the clean-up work has now begun, but the situation is only slowly easing.

In many places, the emergency services are still struggling with masses of water. Soldiers are also providing support in Poland and the Czech Republic. However, the authorities are not yet giving the all-clear. So far, more than 20 people have tragically lost their lives in the region due to the extreme weather.

In the Polish city of Wroclaw in the west of the country, the flood wave was not expected until Thursday night. As several tributaries that also carry a lot of water flow into the Oder between Olawa and Wroclaw, the possibility of flooding in the Lower Silesian metropolis cannot be ruled out, said an expert.

Flooding in Bresgau Poland

A drone captures the high water levels in Bresgau, Poland, on September 19th. Photo: picture alliance/dpa/PAP | Maciej Kulczynski

Flood defences in Wroclaw have been reinforced as a precautionary measure. One third of the city of 630,000 inhabitants was flooded during the Oder flood in 1997.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is expected to visit Poland on Thursday afternoon. According to the EU Commission, the trip is being organised at the invitation of Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer are also expected to attend the meeting.

The talks are likely to focus on the question of funds from Brussels for reconstruction although the extent of the damage is still unclear.

With reporting from DPA

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