As of: December 23, 2023 3:21 p.m
In Lower Saxony, more and more rivers are overflowing their banks and fire departments are preparing. The flood situation in the country will continue to worsen over the holidays.
The German Weather Service warns of heavy rainfall in the Harz Mountains. Some communities in the south of the country have set up crisis teams to be prepared. Thousands of sandbags have already been filled in Hameln, Northeim and Göttingen. At Leine, Fuhse, Aller, Schunter and Oker the water levels have reached the second highest reporting level 3. This means that properties, streets and cellars can be flooded, especially around Hanover, Hameln, Hildesheim and Braunschweig. In Lehrte in the Hanover region, the fire department is already pumping water out of drainage ditches because they are too full and the water is running into basements. In Wolfenbüttel, firefighters have set up a mobile dike more than 100 meters long to protect residential buildings and a retirement home.
Soils can hardly absorb water
A flood warning is in effect for large parts of the country. There are now floods at 63 of 98 water gauge measuring points. In East Frisia and Ammerland, rivers are being diverted and alternative areas are filling up. The Lower Saxony State Office for Water Management, Coasts and Nature Conservation said further rainfall is expected almost across the board in the coming days (NLWKN) on Friday. As a result, the water levels would rise significantly because the soil would hardly be able to absorb any water.
Wangerooge, Langeoog: Significant damage to the beach
Storm Zoltan caused severe damage, particularly on the islands. Almost the entire beach on Wangerooge has been removed. There is a ten meter high edge here. Large parts of the beach on Langeoog are no longer there either.
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