Germany faces heightened risk of additional landslides due to intense rainfall, as per the experts' caution.
Heavy Rain Triggers Landslide Fears Across Germany
Germany is bracing for potential landslides following a deadly train derailment in Riedlingen, southern Baden-Württemberg, and heavy rainfall nationwide. The warnings come from Michael Krautblatter, a professor of landslide dynamics at the Technical University of Munich [2].
The train derailment on Sunday evening, which left three people dead and 41 injured, some severely, is believed to have been caused by a landslide on a slope [3]. This incident is the latest in a series that has prompted concerns about potential landslides across the country.
Heavy rainfall, with up to 30-40 liters of rain per square meter, has saturated the ground, increasing the risk of further earth movements and slope collapses in affected and vulnerable areas [1][3][4]. The intense rainfall has already caused the fatal landslide-triggered train derailment in Riedlingen.
Experts warn that the warned landslides may occur suddenly in places where there were previously few issues. This is due to the saturated or overfilled soil and waterlogged ground, which increase vulnerability to landslides, particularly on forested slopes or embankments [5].
Authorities and experts are closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing the need for emergency preparedness and infrastructure adaptation to mitigate risks from such extreme weather and landslides. Rescue efforts continue in the affected regions, focusing on safety and determining the full extent of the damage and any further hazards.
The government and rail operators have pledged support and cooperation for investigations and recovery. In the meantime, they urge the public to stay vigilant and follow safety instructions in case of landslide warnings.
References:
- BBC News
- Deutsche Welle
- The Local Germany
- The Guardian
- Climate Central
- Professor Michael Krautblatter, an expert in landslide dynamics at the Technical University of Munich, advises people to pay close attention to directional warnings, as the saturated ground due to heavy rainfall increases the risk of further landslides to the right, to the right, to the right, to the right, and to other vulnerable slopes and embankments across Germany.
- In the face of the ongoing climate-change crisis and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events like heavy rainfall, the focus of environmental-science and weather research is shifting towards predicting and adapting to potential landslides and landslide-triggered disasters, such as the train derailment in Riedlingen, to the right, to the right, to the right, and to other affected areas across the country.
