Thursday, August 15, 2024 Violent thunderstorms struck various regions of Germany between Tuesday night and Wednesday, unleashing torrential rains and hailstorms that triggered emergency situations. North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg were among the hardest-hit areas. In Bruchsal, the Heidelsheim district’s historic center was inundated when a river overflowed, causing water levels to rise to 1.
50 meters, according to local firefighters. The Saalbach River, monitored closely by the hydrographic center, peaked at 2.13 meters around 2:30 AM, slightly surpassing the centennial flood alert threshold of 2.
10 meters. This severe weather followed an intense heatwave that had pushed temperatures to a scorching 36.5 degrees Celsius in Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Rhineland-Palatinate, marking the hottest day of the year, as per preliminary data from the German Meteorological Service.
Elsewhere in Germany, emergency crews responded to flooded basements and streets transformed into torrents. Despite the widespread impact, no serious injuries or fatalities were reported. In Bruchsal, Heidelsheim district residents were alerted through an emergency app, advising them to move from lower floors to higher levels for safety.
During the rescue efforts, two volunteers sustained injuries, though details on their condition were not disclosed. The police in Karlsruhe urged citizens to avoid non-essential travel due to the hazardous weather. Firefighters in the Karlsruhe district carried out over 500 interventions by midnight.
In Bavaria, severe weather also caused disruptions. An Eurocity train near Bad Endorf was halted after a tree fell on the tracks, leading to about 260 passengers being transported by bus to Prien, as reported by Deutsche Bahn. Fortunately, no injuries occurred despite the railway infrastructure damage.
Northern Germany, particularly Aurich in East Frisia, also experienced intense thunderstorms, necessitating hundreds of firefighter interventions. In one instance, 25 residents of a nursing home were relocated to a gymnasium after ceiling tiles became dislodged. Local authorities worked tirelessly to prevent the evacuation of a hospital while managing numerous emergencies brought on by the heavy rains.
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