After storms with heavy rainfall, small floods have appeared in southeastern regions of Germany. According to local media, the situation in the flooded areas is under control. Forecasts indicate further waves of heavy rain, which is why authorities in Bavaria and Saxony are preparing for river floods.
After heavy rainfall, minor floods have occurred in the southeastern part of the country. According to the Tagesschau portal, the areas of Upper and Lower Bavaria and Upper Palatinate are currently particularly affected.
On Saturday evening, German media carried photos of a small village in the Rosenheim district in Bavaria being “swallowed” by floodwaters. The village, which has a population of around 60 people, was largely submerged in crops and houses, merkur.de reports.
The Isar River burst its banks near Munich on Sunday, causing local flooding. Although the situation in the flooded areas is under control, local weather services are warning of another wave of heavy rainfall.
Bavaria and Saxony prepare for danger
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), continuous and heavy rain will fall in Saxony and eastern Bavaria from Sunday afternoon. In these areas, warnings of the second and third degree of heavy rain are in force.
In the Munich area, 40 to 50 litres of water per square metre may fall by Tuesday, and in the extreme south-eastern districts even up to 90 l/sq m.
The MDR portal noted on Sunday that new, continuous rainfall in parts of Bavaria and Saxony could worsen the flood situation. The regions in Saxony on the Elbe and Nysabut also Brandenburg, which borders Poland.
The water level is rising
As reported by the Deutsche Welle portal, the water level in the Elbe River in the Saxon Schoena reached the second level of danger on Sunday, which, according to the State Flood Control Centre, signals the beginning of a flood.
The capital of Saxony, Dresden, is also preparing for a rise in the river level. It is estimated that the river will reach four meters on Sunday, which would give it the first alert level. Next week, the highest, fourth alert level may apply, reports the MDR portal. Due to the threat of a rising river, the city authorities have accelerated work to remove part of the Caroli Bridge that collapsed on Wednesday.
The Bavarian Environment Agency predicts that the rainfall will only cause a moderate increase in water levels in the eastern part of the country. The further development of the situation is still uncertain.
Main image source: Reuters