Christmas in Northern Thuringia: A Wet and Wild Celebration
It was far from a traditional Christmas for many residents in the north of Thuringia, Germany. Basements filled with water, flooded streets, and muddy paths made for a less-than-merry holiday season. Fire departments and technical relief organizations worked tirelessly to combat the floods, according to Nordhausen's district fire director, Daniel Kunze.
Kunze reported that around 280 professionals were deployed at the height of the crisis, handling tasks such as sandbagging, road closures, and responding to emergency calls. Despite the efforts, no injuries were reported in his area of responsibility.
"Unfortunately, it was not a peaceful Christmas for the firefighters who were deployed to avert danger in the areas at risk from flooding in the districts of Nordhausen and Eichsfeld," wrote Thuringia's Interior Minister, Georg Maier (SPD), on the Internet platform X. Maier praised the helpers for their commitment and thanked them for their efforts.
Emergency services across Thuringia were on high alert, as reported by the Süd-Thüringen-Bahn. Train services between Sonneberg and Blechhammer were suspended on Saturday due to a washed-out level crossing in Hüttengrund. Additionally, flooded streets in cities like Eisenach and Windischleuba forced road closures in these regions.
Sadly, an accident occurred on Friday night in Hildburghausen. A man, believed to be adjusting water levels at a mill weir, fell into the water and perished. The high water levels and current pressure made recovery attempts challenging.
Positive news emerged on Sunday, as the Thuringian Weather Service (DWD) anticipating a slight improvement at some measuring points. However, water levels remained a concern in other parts of the region.
"It may still take some time until the water has drained away in the heavily affected areas, such as in northern Thuringia," said Kunze. Residents should be prepared to spend their holidays wading through water, particularly in basements.
Extended rainfall was expected for the flooded regions in northern and southern Thuringia, as warned by the DWD. The rain would not be as intense as in previous days, according to TLuBN spokesperson Nils Fröhlich. However, this could rapidly elevate water levels in certain areas, necessitating continued vigilance and caution.
As the holiday festivities continued, wind gusts could reach up to 80 kilometers per hour in Thuringia, as declared by the DWD. This could create hazardous conditions in various parts of the state.
Climate change has led to more frequent and intense heatwaves and flash flooding in Germany, including regions like Thuringia[5]. The European Commission has assessed flood risks in Germany, focusing on inland flooding as part of their river basin management plans[1]. Agriculturally prone areas, such as the Thuringian Basin, are naturally prone to flooding due to their stream flow patterns[3].
As the situation continued to evolve, local authorities and emergency services in Thuringia remained focused on managing flood risk and responding to impacted communities. Consulting reliable news sources, official government reports, or emergency management agencies offered the most accurate information on the region's flood situation and emergency responses.
