00:59Germany: Hundreds of Dresden residents evacuated after floods
Germany: Hundreds of Dresden residents evacuated after floods
Six hundred people were evacuated from their homes in Dresden on Wednesday as water levels continued to rise and the Elbe river invaded the city streets. Despite the severity of the floodwaters and the damage it has done through out Germany, the Elbe is still expected to rise, not reaching a peak until Thursday morning.
The European Commision reported 12 people dead as a result of the floods on Tuesday, seven in the Czech Republic, three in Germany and two in Austria. Authorites increased the number of dead to 15 on Wednesday, adding one more casualty in both the Czech Republic and Germany. They have also reported four others missing in Central Europe.
Parts of Germany have not seen such floods in centuries, with the south east city of Passau suffering its worst flood in 500 years. Although the water is now receding in Passau, "the worst is yet to come" says Lt. Col. Thorsten Klapp. Mayor Jurgen Dupper told Chacellor Angela Markel who made a visit to the medieval town on June 4 that residents still "dont have power and [drinking] water".
The eastern city of Halle has also been affected, after its river Saale rose to the highest level recorded in more than 70 years.
As many as 4,000 German soldiers have been deployed to the flood effected areas, reinforcing river dams, giving medical aid and aiding in emergency evacuations. The damage costs from the floods are
suspected to surpass the cost of the last great flood in 2002, which had a total damage cost of €11.8 Billion ($15.3 billiion) in Germany. Markel has pledged to give €100 million ($131 million) in federal emergency aid to the regions affected and promised to release more funds if it should become necessary.
The floods are due to the heavy rain that followed after the wet spring in the region. The moisture and rain left the ground saturated and unable to absorb the extra water coming from the overflowing river waters, turning the streets into canals.
00:59Germany: Hundreds of Dresden residents evacuated after floods
Six hundred people were evacuated from their homes in Dresden on Wednesday as water levels continued to rise and the Elbe river invaded the city streets. Despite the severity of the floodwaters and the damage it has done through out Germany, the Elbe is still expected to rise, not reaching a peak until Thursday morning.
The European Commision reported 12 people dead as a result of the floods on Tuesday, seven in the Czech Republic, three in Germany and two in Austria. Authorites increased the number of dead to 15 on Wednesday, adding one more casualty in both the Czech Republic and Germany. They have also reported four others missing in Central Europe.
Parts of Germany have not seen such floods in centuries, with the south east city of Passau suffering its worst flood in 500 years. Although the water is now receding in Passau, "the worst is yet to come" says Lt. Col. Thorsten Klapp. Mayor Jurgen Dupper told Chacellor Angela Markel who made a visit to the medieval town on June 4 that residents still "dont have power and [drinking] water".
The eastern city of Halle has also been affected, after its river Saale rose to the highest level recorded in more than 70 years.
As many as 4,000 German soldiers have been deployed to the flood effected areas, reinforcing river dams, giving medical aid and aiding in emergency evacuations. The damage costs from the floods are
suspected to surpass the cost of the last great flood in 2002, which had a total damage cost of €11.8 Billion ($15.3 billiion) in Germany. Markel has pledged to give €100 million ($131 million) in federal emergency aid to the regions affected and promised to release more funds if it should become necessary.
The floods are due to the heavy rain that followed after the wet spring in the region. The moisture and rain left the ground saturated and unable to absorb the extra water coming from the overflowing river waters, turning the streets into canals.