A storm front with heavy rain caused numerous damage in Lower Franconia on Thursday night. The fire brigades in the district of Aschaffenburg had to work with around 600 people at more than 350 locations. The municipality of Laufach was particularly affected, in which several streams burst their banks and flooded streets, cellars and buildings, according to the district fire inspection in Aschaffenburg. So far nothing is known about injuries.
The thunderstorm front moved from southwest to northeast across Lower Franconia on Wednesday evening. The German Weather Service had warned of thunderstorms with heavy rain and gusty winds, especially in parts of Franconia. Most of the operations were in Laufach: According to the district fire inspection, the three tributaries of the Laufach brought with them such heavy water masses that numerous streets were flooded and cellars were full. This also affected individual companies whose basements were filled to the ceiling with water.
Fire engines from less affected areas were alerted to provide support. In Großostheim and Stockstadt, the fire brigade was also alerted to several operations – here mostly flooded cellars had to be freed from water that had penetrated or fallen trees had to be removed.
As the night progressed, the storm moved into the Kahlgrund. In Schöllkrippen, the Kahl caused greater damage: Due to bridge work, the local district of Langenborn can currently only be reached via a makeshift asphalt driveway. The briefly swollen bald flooded and undermined this driveway. Branches in the water impaired the load-bearing capacity of the structure, so that it had to be rebuilt and since Thursday the district of Langenborn can only be reached via a major detour.
In the Main-Spessart district, the aura burst its banks because of the heavy rain. In the village of Aura im Sinngrund, named after the river, the main street was severely flooded. The water got into several cellars, which were pumped out by the fire brigade. As a result of the heavy rain, according to the flood news service, a rapid rise in the water level was recorded, especially in the Sinn catchment area. At the Mittelsinn level, reporting level 3 was only just missed.
Local storms can occur again and again in Bavaria until Friday night, according to the German Weather Service. The danger of heavy rainfall with hail and heavy gusts of wind is mainly in Upper Bavaria and Swabia, it said.