As heavy rain continues to drench Germany, authorities have issued flood warnings across multiple states just days before Christmas.
The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued warnings for several regions, including Saxony in the east, Lower Saxony in the northwest, Bavaria in the southeast, and Hesse, North-Rhine Westphalia, and Rhineland-Palatinate in the west.
The persistent rainfall is expected to persist until Christmas Day, with some areas experiencing 100-150 liters of rain per square meter over 48 to 96 hours.
Germany had previously experienced major flooding in June, and the situation is once again concerning.
In Lower Saxony, the third-highest warning level was reached at 30 measuring stations early on Sunday, with several rivers, including the Weser, Aller, Leine, and Oker, surpassing their thresholds.
Emergency services have taken precautionary measures, including securing transformer stations in the Rodenberg district east of Hanover.
Mayor Thomas Wolf of Rodenberg mentioned that water was flowing over an anti-flooding barrier, marking the most significant flooding in the municipality in 25 years.
In Saxony-Anhalt, the flood forecasting center has issued warnings for the Mulde, Aller, and Havel rivers. Alert level 3 has been reached in parts of Saxony, including the city of Chemnitz.
The Ruhr Valley area, encompassing cities like Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg, and Bochum, has experienced rail disruptions due to heavy rainfall.
On a concerning note, on Saturday, firefighters rescued a woman trapped in her car in a flooded suburb of Münster, North-Rhine Westphalia.
The situation remains monitored as authorities work to manage the impact of ongoing heavy rainfall.
