Authorities in eastern Germany responded to fresh flooding on Tuesday, a week after parts of Central and Eastern Europe were hit by unprecedented rainfall.
The Oder-Spree district in the state of Brandenburg issued the highest warning level on Tuesday morning after the Oder River rose again. The water level in the village of Ratzdorf, on the border with Poland, is expected to rise to 5.90 meters.
The river normally flows past the village at an altitude of about 2.60 metres.
In the nearby town of Eisenhüttenstadt, the first reports of flooding have been received. The water reached several houses and flooded gardens and garages.
“We are still filling sandbags,” a spokeswoman said. The highest warning level is expected to go into effect for the city on Wednesday, when the water level reaches 6.30 meters.
Further downstream, the city of Frankfurt an der Oder warned residents to stay away from storm surge barriers after reports of people trying to climb the barriers to view the high water.
Although water levels around the city are high, dikes and protective walls are still holding, authorities said.
Across the border, in the Polish city of Słubice, Deputy Mayor Tomasz Stefanski said emergency services were “very well prepared for the arrival of the flood wave.”
Emergency services are also present in Ratzdorf, where a 152-metre-long wall is being built to hold back the river.
The highest warning level means that the threat of flooding poses a risk to lives in the region.
The water level in Ratzdorf is expected to reach its highest point on Wednesday and remain high until Friday.
Germany largely escaped the effects of historic flooding earlier this month in neighbouring Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic.
However, 25 beavers were shot by environmental authorities on the Oder because the animals can dig deep holes in the protective dikes.
