The heavy rains which have fallen on certain European regions in recent days have led to a sudden rise in water levels.
Flood alerts in Europe: Moselle in France, northern Italy and Slovenia affected by severe weather
The heavy rainfall that has hit the European continent in recent days has led to widespread flood damage. Overview of France, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.
France: Moselle on vigilance
In eastern France, meteorological authorities have declared a red flood alert for this Saturday for the Moselle department due to an “exceptional flood” of the Nied rivers (French and German side), with a peak “of the order of five meters”, according to Vigicrues. The monitoring service reports a “direct and widespread threat to the security of people and property”.
The exceptional rains caused a rapid rise on all the rivers in the basin and the situation will continue throughout the weekend. In the Filstroff sector, the height reached exceeds “the historic floods of April/May 1983 and February 1997”.
The department experienced heavy rainfall: “the equivalent of more than a month of rain fell in less than 24 hours,” said the prefecture, referring to an “impressive, but not dramatic” situation. At this stage, the bad weather has not caused any casualties.
In Boulay, in Moselle, the town of 6,000 inhabitants is crossed by a torrent of muddy water. The river has burst its banks and the flow is impressive, even in the city center.
In Oberhof, in the Bas-Rhin, the water rises inexorably. The Zorn River has burst its banks. The houses begin to be surrounded.
Note that Météo France has also placed the department of Meurthe-et-Moselle on red “flood” alert this Saturday afternoon due in particular to the heavy rain that fell in the Lunéville sector.
Germany: Olaf Scholz puts on his rain boots
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited flooded areas in the southwest on Saturday, where rivers have swollen and caused flash floods and landslides after heavy rain and bad weather.
The German leader canceled his participation in an election campaign event in Saarland, on the border with France, and put on his rain boots as he walked along a partially flooded road in the village of Kleinblittersdorf with the governor regional Anke Rehlinger.
Emergency services responded to thousands of requests for help in the state capital of Saarbrücken. Several buildings in the town had to be evacuated because houses and cellars were flooded. Cars were partially submerged and streets filled with water. The city has set up alternative accommodations at schools and set up a hotline for those affected.
Olaf Scholz assured the Land of Saarland of federal solidarity. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time that we have had to deal with a large natural disaster and so we will of course look at what needs to be done here now and what is necessary”he told reporters.
Saarland has already taken the first steps to unlock financial support, German news agency dpa reported.
The German Weather Service has meanwhile lifted the weather alert for Germany, as the rains are expected to slowly subside. Saarland authorities said such flash floods only occur every 20 to 50 years.
Italy: the north of the country impacted
Firefighters in northern Italy continued their operations on Friday to help local populations affected by damage caused by heavy rains and floods. Over the past two days, firefighters have reported 1,800 interventions in the Veneto region and more than 1,000 in Lombardy, where the situation appears to be improving.
ADVERTISEMENTAccording to a report from the firefighters, the situation was declared more serious in the Padua region where work continues in the Camposampiero countryside following the rupture of an embankment on Friday morning.
The evacuation of certain houses that remained isolated and technical checks in the flooded area are underway.
In Cantù, in Lombardy, near Como, firefighters recovered the body of a man missing after falling into a stream on Friday.
Slovenia: heavy rains in the northeast
Local storms formed and heavy rain caused problems in northeastern Slovenia on Thursday evening. Especially along the Štajerska and Gorenjska rivers, which overflowed. In some areas, roads and underpasses were underwater.
ADVERTISEMENTRescuers intervened 53 times, 36 firefighters participated in the rescue and restoration of services after the severe storm.
The region of Šmarje pri Jelšah was the most affected, where around thirty buildings were flooded. Lightning also caused damage, the Civil Protection and Rescue Administration said.
