Towns in Germany evacuated and dykes strengthened after heavy rain triggers flooding

Dec 26, 2023 at 7:02 PM
Towns in Germany evacuated and dykes strengthened after heavy rain triggers flooding

Towns have been evacuated in Germany after floodwaters rose following heavy rain.

Rivers and streams overflowed when recent downpours fell on already-soaked floor within the north and east of the nation.

Firefighters and volunteers have strengthened dykes in opposition to the rising floodwaters.

Firefighters try to secure the village with sandbags after floodwater from the Burlage-Langholter Tief, a tributary of the Leda, overflowed or softened the dykes Pic:DPA/AP
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Firefighters lay sandbags within the village of Langholt. Pic: DPA/AP

An synthetic dyke – an extended tube full of water from the rising river – has been used within the metropolis of Braunschweig to guard its downtown space.

More flooding is predicted on Tuesday night, German news outlet MDR stated on its web site, and several other roads have been closed within the metropolis, round 43 miles (70km) east of Hanover.

Hundreds of individuals in Windehausen, round 90 miles (144km) to the south, have been instructed to depart their properties after the city misplaced energy, the DPA news company stated.

An image printed by the Nordhausen District Office confirmed roads and gardens flooded all throughout the city.

It was not clear whether or not homes had additionally been affected however some appeared to have escaped the worst.

The state of affairs there may be “stable”, MDR stated, however warned that components of the Saxony-Anhalt area had been “still struggling with high water levels” affecting rail journey.

Pic:DPA/AP
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An synthetic cell dyke round 300 metres lengthy. Photo by: Stefan Rampfel/picture-alliance/DPA/AP

It stated the best alert stage of 4 was in place at Helme close to the Kelbra dam.

The Saale River has flooded, leaving massive areas between Halle and Roepzig submerged.

Hundreds of volunteers and firefighters have used sandbags to strengthen flood defences in Uplengen, close to Bremen in northern Germany.

Christmas washout in Germany as heavy rains cause rivers to burst their banks
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Parts of Germany have been flooded. Pic: AP

Several floodplains had been additionally underwater on Tuesday within the jap Netherlands.

Rivers surged, inflicting localised flooding, and a few short-term dykes had been being constructed with massive sandbags.

The water ranges of the varied branches of the Rhine that circulation by the Netherlands are anticipated to peak on Thursday.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte posted on X saying that “the high water causes problems in parts of the country”.