2024-01-05 14:51:41
For the first time in the current flood situation, soldiers from the Bundeswehr are on duty. Around 200 temporary and professional soldiers have been helping to fill and distribute sandbags in the Mansfeld-Südharz district in southern Saxony-Anhalt since Friday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Bundeswehr said. The initial aim is to stabilize a section of the dike in Sangerhausen. Because the Helme River overflowed its banks at the end of the year, the district declared a disaster on December 30th.
With the deployment in Saxony-Anhalt, soldiers are now deployed in flood areas for the first time. According to the information, the soldiers deployed come from Thuringia and Schleswig-Holstein. Bundeswehr equipment and materials are currently being used in Lower Saxony, and preparations are currently being made for the deployment of soldiers there.
Readiness in Lower Saxony
In Lower Saxony, forces from the 1st Panzer Division are to be put on standby, as the state command announced at the request of the German Press Agency. These are to be stationed in the Oldenburg, Verden and Celle districts. A concrete use is therefore not yet foreseeable.
Due to the tense flood situation in the state, Bundeswehr helicopters are still on standby to provide assistance from the air. According to the state command, this involves a total of ten machines from the army, navy and air force, which are spread across several locations in the state. So far no helicopter has been used. If an operation is necessary, the helicopters could, for example, support evacuations and the transport of heavy sandbags.
Situation remains tense
The water levels on rivers in Lower Saxony could fall in the coming days. A tendency towards falling water levels is expected, said Anne Rickmeyer, director of the state agency for water management, coastal and nature conservation. However, it could still take several days or even a week until the water levels are below the more critical ones.
The Hunte around Oldenburg and the Hase around Meppen continue to be particularly affected. There the Hase flows into the Ems, which also has a high water level. “According to current calculations, however, it can be assumed that the maximum water levels of the past few days will not be reached.” On Friday afternoon, numerous water levels were still above the highest reporting level in Lower Saxony – in addition to Hase and Hunte, also on the Weser, Aller and Leine.
Weather service predicts temperature drop
After the continuous rain, a change in the weather is now bringing freezing cold to large parts of Germany. According to the DWD, rain showers will still occur in the center and southwest of the country on Saturday, while snow will fall in some areas in the rest of the country. There is “persistent snowfall” from Lake Constance and the Alps to eastern Bavaria. At night it can get as cold as minus 7 degrees.
The DWD also expects light snowfall with lots of clouds in the south on Sunday. North of the Main, however, it remains mostly dry, with the sun appearing in some areas. Temperatures reach minus 5 to plus 2 degrees.
Peter-Philipp Schmitt Published/Updated: Recommendations: 149 Eckart Lohse, Berlin Published/Updated: Recommendations: 7 Published/Updated: Recommendations: 9
In Saxony-Anhalt, the announced permanent frost on the Helme River could be helpful in fending off flooding: “That will play into our hands,” said a spokeswoman for the disaster management team for the Mansfeld-Südharz district – the dikes would solidify in the frost.
Steinmeier thanks helpers
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier thanked the tens of thousands of helpers in the flood areas and expressed his appreciation. “Everyone who helps with this flood deserves the thanks of our entire nation,” said Steinmeier on Friday. “This shows that when it comes down to it, our country stands together.”
In the written statement, Steinmeier announced that he had invited helpers from the voluntary fire brigade and the technical relief organization who had been involved in the fight against the floods to his New Year’s reception at Bellevue Palace next week. “We have to support everyone who protects and rescues and visibly recognize them all. They are role models.”
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