Parts of the flood protection system in Grimma have been destroyed. The city administration announced this on Monday. A larger flood gate in the area of Volkshausplatz and other parts of the adjoining flood protection system are particularly affected. According to the city, iron parts of the flood gate have been bent and it can currently no longer be closed. Grimma’s Mayor Matthias Berger said he was deeply appalled. This is “no more vandalism, but terrorism”.
As every chain is known to be only as strong as its weakest link, our city is completely defenseless, especially now in the high water season, due to the non-lockable gate. 3,300 lives and 800 buildings would have been exposed to the flood and the flood protection system would have been in vain.
City suspects foreigners behind the damage
The act probably occurred on Sunday night. Lord Mayor Berger made an urgent appeal to the responsible state authorities such as the public prosecutor’s office and the police to respond promptly and deliver the results of the investigation. Axel Bobbe, operations manager Mulde of the state dam administration in Saxony, told MDR SACHSEN on Monday that the city suspects that foreign celebrants are responsible for the damage.
In view of the current weather situation, I find it outrageous how people deal with such a flood protection system. Right there on Volkshausplatz is the deepest part of Grimma, which is the first to be affected when the hollow rises.
If the gate does not close and there is a sharp rise in the trough, the fire brigade and the city have to help each other out with sandbags, explained Bobbe. The rest of the wall is not at risk, however. Bobbe nevertheless expects the damage to be in the double-digit thousands.