Southern Germany – The death toll from severe flooding in southern Germany has risen to four, with emergency workers continuing to evacuate affected residents. Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who visited the flood-stricken areas on Monday, warned that water levels might rise further in some regions.
In Baden-Wuerttemberg, police reported that the bodies of a man and a woman were discovered in the basement of their home in Schorndorf, near Stuttgart. The heavy rains have led to mass evacuations in Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg.
Earlier on Monday, authorities found the body of a 43-year-old woman in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria. On Sunday, a firefighter drowned in Pfaffenhofen after his rescue boat capsized.
The floods have caused significant disruptions, including to train services. A high-speed train traveling between Stuttgart and Augsburg derailed due to a landslide blocking the tracks, though no injuries were reported, according to Agence France-Presse.
Chancellor Scholz emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, stating, “This is not just one event like there have been for centuries. This is an indication that something is up here. We must not neglect the task of stopping man-made climate change.”
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Weather forecasts predict more heavy rainfall for parts of southern and eastern Germany. Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soder described the situation as “critical and tense,” with fluctuating water levels causing new floods and evacuations. He noted that water levels are expected to rise in Regensburg and along the Danube River, adding that there is no “full insurance” against climate change.
