Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

FLOODS

Rescue worker dies amid flooding in southern Germany

A volunteer firefighter died during a rescue operation during heavy rain and flooding in the south of Germany, local police said on Sunday.

Published: 2 June 2024 13:10 CEST
Fireworkers discuss the operation in Reichertshofen
Fireworkers discuss the operation in Reichertshofen on June 2, 2024. A volunteer firefighter has died in a rescue operation in Bavaria. (Photo by LUKAS BARTH / AFP)

The 42-year-old died after his rescue ship capsized near Pfaffenhofen in the region of Bavaria.

Four emergency workers were attempting to reach people trapped by the flood waters, when their boat turned over.

Three of the crew managed to pull themselves to safety, while the fourth was found dead in the water by other rescue workers at around 2:20 am local time (0020 GMT).

READ ALSO: Forecasters warn of further heavy rain in flooded southern Germany

“I am saddened by the death of a firefighter in Pfaffenhofen. My thoughts are with his family and colleagues,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on X.

“We owe thanks and respect to the rescue workers and helpers who are fighting the consequences of the floods in many places,” Scholz said.

Heavy rains from Friday onwards have led to flooding across the southern German states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria.

German rail operator Deutsche Bahn said on Sunday the rail link between the cities of Stuttgart and Augsburg was closed as a result of the severe weather.

Two carriages of a high-speed train travelling on the line came off the rails after a landslide, according to local media reports.

None of the passengers on board were injured in the incident late on Saturday, close to Schwaebisch Gmuend.

Several districts in Bavaria have declared emergencies as a result of the high waters.

The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of more heavy rain to come in southern Germany on Sunday.

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

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

SHOW COMMENTS