REICHERTSHOFEN: Rescuers battled on Monday to evacuate people from floods in southern Germany that have killed four people, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz called it a “warning” that climate change was getting worse.
Since Friday, heavy downpours have inundated regions across Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes in the face of rising floodwaters. Overnight into Monday, additional evacuations were ordered as flood defenses were breached.
In Bavaria, the rupture of a dam in Ebenhausen-Werk prompted authorities to urge around 800 people to evacuate, while residents in the worst-affected area of Manching-Pichl were advised to seek refuge on the upper floors of their homes.
Chancellor Scholz, speaking from the flood-hit town of Reichertshofen, stressed that such catastrophic events are no longer isolated incidents but rather threatening indicators of a changing climate. “We must not neglect the task of stopping man-made climate change,” he asserted.
Bavarian State Premier Markus Soeder acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the floods and emphasised the need for comprehensive measures to address climate change. “Events are happening here that have never happened before,” Soeder remarked.
The floods have also disrupted transportation networks, with widespread train cancellations and delays reported across the region. Landslides and derailments have further compounded the logistical challenges, hindering efforts to restore normalcy.
Despite pledges to address climate change, a panel of experts has cast doubt on the government’s emissions reduction targets, warning that current forecasts are unrealistic. The government’s failure to adequately account for emissions from key sectors such as transport, building, and industry raises concerns about its ability to meet its stated objectives.
