Torrential floods in Germany force evacuation of Danube cruise

Torrential rains in Germany have led to the declaration of a state of emergency. On Monday, the waters of the Danube reached a dangerous level, causing a passenger ship on the river to halt its journey. 150 people had to be evacuated using a smaller boat.

The number of flood victims in Germany is increasing. Heavy downpours have hit the country, and the water level in the Danube keeps rising.

As the German "Bild reported," the rising river level caused one of the cruise ships to interrupt its voyage on the Danube and anchor. Onboard were 147 tourists from various countries worldwide, including the USA and Australia, and almost 50 crew members.

Before noon, the cruise ship departed from a small port in Bavaria. Its voyage did not last long. Due to the rising water level in the Danube, further travel could have been too dangerous, so the decision to evacuate was made.

A much smaller rescue ship was dispatched to where the passenger ship was anchored. This vessel could transport 30 people to shore at a time. Among the passengers were mainly elderly people, but medical assistance was unnecessary. The evacuation was completed around 1:30 PM Eastern Time, and then all the tourists were taken to Munich airport so they could safely and without incident return to their home countries.

There have been heavy rains for several days in Germany, especially in the south. As a result, some regions are struggling with floods. Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg are among those dealing with the aftermath of intense rainfall.

As reported on Monday, not one but four people have now died as a result of the floods. The first victim was a firefighter involved in rescuing a family in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm on Saturday. The raft carrying four firefighters capsized. One of them, a 42-year-old, died. The others managed to get out of the water.

German police reported to the AP that on Monday, the body of a 43-year-old woman, who had been missing since Sunday morning, was found in the basement of a house in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria. Meanwhile, in Schorndorf near Stuttgart, the bodies of a woman and a man were found in a flooded basement.

A state of emergency has been declared in several counties and cities in Bavaria. Schools and kindergartens located in flooded areas have been closed until further notice. Thousands of people living near the Danube have evacuated their homes. Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Upper Bavaria and promised government assistance to those affected.