Warning for the German North Sea coast: There is a risk of a severe storm surge. In many places there were dozens of fire brigade operations. Apparently a ship had an accident on the Elbe.
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has tightened its storm surge warning. The BSH announced on Saturday evening that there was now a risk of a severe storm surge for the German North Sea coast. The water levels in Hamburg’s Elbe area could be 2.5 to 3 meters higher than the average flood. The apex is expected to be reached around 1:50 a.m. on Sunday morning. According to the information, there is also a warning of a severe storm surge caused by the storm “Nadia” for East and North Friesland.
Because of the storm surge, a crisis team has been set up in the interior authority in Hamburg. “The competencies are bundled there,” said a police spokesman on Sunday morning. The fire brigade and the district offices are also part of the Central Disaster Service (ZKD).
The BSH experts had previously worked on the Elbe in Hamburg calculated with water levels of 2 to 2.5 meters above mean high water. On the North Sea coast, one speaks of a storm surge when the flood water is at least 1.5 meters higher than normal. A severe or very severe storm surge is only spoken of from values of 2.5 or 3.5 meters.
There is also a risk of a storm surge for the German Baltic Sea coast.
Water levels of up to 130 cm above the mean water level are expected during the course of the day on Sunday. The low water warning is still in effect until the morning.
Shipwreck on the Elbe
A barge got stuck under a bridge in the port of Hamburg. A police spokesman said on Saturday evening that the ship got stuck with the wheelhouse on the Freihafenelbbrücke and got stuck. According to initial reports, there were no injuries. There were two people on board the ship. The exact cause of the accident was initially unclear. It is possible that the captain misjudged the rising water level of the Elbe. The bridge is closed.
“The ship is stuck under the bridge. If the water continues to rise, there is a risk that it will be pushed under water and sink,” the spokesman continued. Therefore, tugs are now on their way to free the ship. The Freihafenelbbrücke from 1926 is considered a symbol of Hamburg. It crosses the North Elbe and is located on the northern border of the port area.
Because of the inflowing water, some cars had to be recovered by the fire brigade in the city on the Elbe. They had been trapped by the flood. The authorities had previously called on citizens to take vehicles out of the danger zones. Videos on Twitter showed flooding at the fish market and helpers from the DLRG positioning inflatable boats.
According to the German weather service (DWD) stormy. The experts warned of storms up to hurricane gusts on Saturday. The high point was expected on Sunday night.
“We’re totally under land because of the storm”
In Schleswig-Holstein, the police and fire brigade were called to numerous storm-related operations on Saturday afternoon. There were no injuries in Schleswig-Holstein until late in the evening.
Fire brigade in Schleswig-Holstein: Several trees fell over, roof tiles came loose. (Source: Daniel Bockwoldt/dpa)
Since midday, there had been around 200 operations within four hours in the area of the regional control center responsible for Kiel, Neumünster and Rendsburg, among other things, as a spokesman said. “We’re totally under land because of the storm.” The emergency services were called, for example, because of falling roof tiles, fallen trees or blown tarpaulins. The west control center in Elmshorn also reported on various operations. “Everything I see on my screen has to do with the storm,” a spokesman said.
The number of operations during the afternoon also increased in the area of the southern regional control center in Lübeck. “We’ve been warming up since 2 p.m.,” said a spokeswoman. Since 12.00 noon there have been 46 operations in the area of the control center. Here, too, it was mainly downed trees and construction site barriers that were blown over. The regional control center responsible for North Friesland, Flensburg and the Schleswig-Flensburg district also reported numerous operations, but “nothing worth mentioning”.
In Berlin, the professional fire brigade has put volunteer fire brigades on alert as a precaution. The helpers of ten weirs have been ordered to the guards. Strong winds of up to 100 km/h are expected in the capital. According to media reports, a billboard fell on a passerby in Beelitz in Brandenburg and seriously injured him. In Friedrichshain and in Treptow there was damage from fallen trees.
In Schwerin, long-distance traffic was partially discontinued. The fire brigade had to deal with fallen trees and falling branches.
Freighter drifted offshore
Because of the storm “Nadia” over the North Sea, an unloaded freighter drifted off the German coast for several hours. The 190 meter long “Vienna” clearly had problems maneuvering, said a spokesman for the emergency command in Cuxhaven on Sunday morning. The machine was too weak to hold the ship against wind and waves. Therefore, among other things, emergency tugs were sent to the distressed vessel. The freighter was secured after about six hours.
“Had we not intervened, the ship would have become a risk to the coast. We hope that the connection between the ETV and the ship will hold,” said the spokesman. The freighter, which sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands, is said to be drifting about 16 nautical miles (about 30 kilometers) off the East Frisian coast. According to initial findings, the 24 crew members were not injured. The ship was not damaged.
Massive lane restrictions
Because of the storm low over the North Sea, there are massive problems in rail traffic in northern Germany. Long-distance traffic in Hamburg, Schleswig Holstein, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Bremen was stopped for about 50 minutes, but has now started again, said a railway spokesman on Saturday evening Berlin. He cited storm damage as the reason. According to the information, the ICE routes between Hamburg and Bremen and between Hamburg and Berlin and Schwerin are particularly affected. There are still major impairments there, the spokesman said. After midnight, the route between Hamburg and Berlin was still closed
According to the railways, there are also cancellations and delays in regional traffic. Travelers and commuters should check before driving via the website, via the app or by telephone whether their train is running as planned. It was therefore initially unclear when the trains would run again as planned. You have to wait for the night first, said the railway spokesman.