Full cellars, increased accidents and flood alarms: A storm causes chaos and numerous operations in southern Germany. The rivers in Saarland are currently swelling due to heavy rainfall and constant rain. Due to the predicted amounts of precipitation for Friday, it is assumed that the water levels at the gauges in the Saar catchment area will rise very sharply, the State Office for Environmental and Occupational Safety in Saarbrücken announced in its flood situation report on Friday. There is currently a strong risk of flooding.
While the water levels on the Blies, Nied and Prims are expected to partially fall again during the evening, according to the forecast, the peak on the Saar is expected during Saturday morning. The state office also announced that flooding of developed land, buildings and cellars could occur by then. There are also road closures.
The storm also caused numerous fire and police operations in Baden-Württemberg. A man was seriously injured in an accident on Autobahn 5 near Bühl, the Offenburg police announced on Friday. The 29-year-old lost control of his car during the night due to heavy rain and excessive speed and left the road.
The vehicle overturned and came to rest behind the guardrail. The 29-year-old was taken to a hospital. Heavy rain has caused numerous incidents in southwest Germany since Thursday evening. According to the Offenburg police, aquaplaning occurred on Autobahn 5, which caused several accidents.
Near Rastatt, a 69-year-old man left the road and crashed into a concrete wall next to the left lane. The car then skidded across all lanes and overturned. The 69-year-old and his passenger were taken to hospital. Cellars flooded in the area of the Aalen police station.
There were also severe weather operations in other federal states. According to the fire department, emergency services in Nuremberg responded on Thursday evening mainly because of overflowing underpasses and basements as well as flooded streets and full basements.
The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of further heavy rain in southwest Germany on Friday. Parts of Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and North Rhine-Westphalia are affected. The DWD warned of flooding and flooding until early Saturday. The highest warning level applied in Saarland and the south of Rhineland-Palatinate.
