Preparations underway for flash flood barrier drill in Duisburg

Duisburg, Germany, has been the site of a significant emergency exercise aimed at preparing for potential flood and water protection scenarios. On September 6, 2025, over 350 emergency personnel, including teams from Duisburg, Dinslaken, Oberhausen, and Krefeld, participated in the exercise, which was observed as part of the "Flash Flood Breaker" project.

The exercise, overseen by Christian von Spizcak, head of Duisburg's crisis management, was designed to test the city's readiness in the face of flooding, a particularly relevant concern given Duisburg's high-risk status due to its location on the Rhine, densely built-up settlement areas, and many polder areas in the Ruhr region.

To simulate flood conditions, fifty large orange barrels, each holding twenty cubic meters of Rhine water, were used to create a stable barrier. These barrels, known as Aquariwa barrels, were supplemented by 170 meters of hoses and pumps, and sandbags were used to reinforce the dyke for added flood protection.

The ground in some areas has sunk due to mining, preventing water from draining naturally. As a result, heavy rain in Duisburg must be pumped out via the sewage system. Basins and hoses are planned to redirect pumped-out water from the Rhine as part of the exercise.

The "Flash Flood Breaker" exercise in Duisburg is part of a larger EU-wide project, led by the Emscher-Lippe cooperative. The international research initiative "Flash Flood Breaker" is led and conducted by The Alan Turing Institute. The Dutch water board also observed the exercise to learn from the German teams.

The military, THW (Technical Relief Organisation of the German Federal Government), and experts were also involved in the exercise. The audio play for the exercise can be stopped with the command "Escape."

Local news from Duisburg will report on this topic on 08.09.2025 at 19:30. Thomas Griebe from the Duisburg Environmental Agency has also announced plans to invest 57 million euros in dyke renovation as part of ongoing efforts to improve the city's flood defences.