Floods in southwestern Germany: emergency response and Chancellor's visit
Torrential rains have led to floods in southwestern Germany. In some places, nearly 100 litres of water per square meter fell within less than a day. In the state of Saarland, water flooded homes and roads. Some residents were evacuated, and a state of emergency was declared. Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the region.
19 May 2024 12:48
The portal Berliner Kurier reports that intense rainfall began on Friday in southwestern Germany, particularly in Saarland. The downpour led to flooding and landslides and caused extensive damage.
In less than 24 hours, an average of around 100 litres of rain fell per square meter in Saarland. The portal Zeit reports that only half of this amount falls throughout May. It adds that this is the largest flood in Germany in 30 years.
State of emergency. chancellor's visit
The portal Welt reports that a state of emergency was declared in Saarbrücken, the capital of Saarland, and several districts. ZDF adds that an evacuation was organized for residents who were in danger. In Rußhütte, a district of Saarbrücken, people were transported to safety by amphibious vehicles and boats.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited the region on Saturday afternoon. According to information provided by Welt, the politician, along with Saarland Premier Anke Rehlinger, promised support for the affected residents. "The state of Saarland has been in a state of emergency for around 36 hours," said Rehlinger. "No one should be left to their own devices in this difficult situation," she added. The Chancellor praised the work of the rescue services and volunteers.
On Saturday evening, the intensive rescue operations ended, and the water level began to drop. As a result, the authorities of Saarbrücken lifted the state of emergency, reports Welt. Currently, clean-up operations are underway.
Source: Berliner Kurier, Zeit, Welt, ZDF
