At least four dead in southern Germany floods

Floods in southern Germany have caused the death of at least four people, a "catastrophe" described as a "climate change warning" by Chancellor Scholz.

Southern Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, the two southernmost regional states of Germany, have been victims of torrential rains since Friday and thousands of people continue to be evacuated.

The death toll now rises to four with the discovery in Schorndorf, in Baden-Württemberg (southwest), of the bodies of a man and 'a woman, according to the police on Monday.

A few hours earlier the discovery in Schrobenhausen (Bavaria) of the body of a 43-year-old woman had been announced.< /p>

Sandbags to protect against flooding in Reichertshofen, Germany, June 3, 2024 © AFP – LUKAS BARTH

Sunday the death of a 42-year-old volunteer firefighter was reported, while another 22-year-old is still missing.

Visiting Reichertshofen, Bavaria, one of the places most affected by heavy downpours and floods, Olaf Scholz estimated that such weather events were increasing.

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– “No all-risk insurance” –

“This is already the fourth time this year that I have gone to an area (flooded, editor's note). It is a reminder of what is at work. We must not neglect our duty to stop man-made climate change,” said the German leader, wearing boots and a raincoat.

“We must consider this event, this catastrophe, as a warning,” he added.

An emergency vehicle on a flooded street in Baar-Ebenhausen, Germany, June 2, 2024 © AFP – LUKAS BARTH

Beside him, the head of the Bavarian regional government, Markus Söder, added: “there is no all-risk insurance against the challenges of climate change”.

In a report released Monday, a panel of experts ruled that the German government's forecasts for greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 were unrealistic. According to them, emissions from the transport, construction and industry sectors have been underestimated.

In flooded regions, train traffic is very difficult, noted the German railways, Deutsche Bahn. Cancellations and delays are expected, they said on their site.

In particular, it is impossible to connect Munich with trains from Stuttgart, Würzburg and Nuremberg.

Germany remains traumatized by deadly floods in July 2021. Rivers suddenly burst their banks in the west of the country, causing more than 180 dead and destroying villages, bridges and roads.

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