West experiences severe street and basement flooding due to heavy downpours

In western Germany, heavy rain has caused flooding and disruptions, with numerous deployments of police and fire departments reported in various regions.

The city most severely affected by the recent heavy rain impacts is the Ahr Valley (Ahrtal), especially in the district of Ahrweiler. Up to 100 liters of rain per square meter fell within a few hours, causing one of Germany's most severe flood disasters with significant destruction and loss of life.

The Ahr valley had at least 135 deaths during the high water disaster more than four years ago. This time, a family was rescued from a flooded apartment in Mönchengladbach by the fire department.

Heavy storms with heavy rain are causing problems on the roads in North Rhine-Westphalia. On the A4 near Frechen, a truck overturned, presumably due to aquaplaning, causing kilometer-long traffic jams. On the A46 in Düsseldorf, a motorway tunnel was flooded.

In Mönchengladbach, deployment forces were called out over 70 times by early morning. Drivers in the city were also rescued from their flooded cars. Due to heavy rain, parents were allowed to decide whether to send their children to school in the morning.

The German Weather Service (DWD) warned of heavy rain with up to 60 liters per square meter in Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, parts of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Baden-Württheimer. The Aachen area, Cologne, the Eifel region, and the Ahr valley are expected to be most affected by the storms.

In the Eifel region, up to 80 liters of rain per square meter could fall, and in stagnant areas up to 90 liters within six to nine hours. THW and fire departments in Bedburg pumped out over 100 deployment sites and tried to protect houses with sandbags. The police in Bedburg reported numerous deployments and flooded basements, with streets under water.

The storms are not as extreme as during the Ahr valley flood disaster in 2021. However, they are causing numerous deployments of police and fire departments, particularly in the west of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The storms are expected to continue until the morning and then ease off towards the northeast from midday. It remained quiet during the night in the Ahr valley, but it started to rain in the early morning.

In conclusion, heavy rain has caused flooding and disruptions across western Germany, with the Ahr Valley being the most affected region. Authorities are working tirelessly to manage the situation and ensure the safety of the residents.