Northern Germany reels from Elbe river flooding
June 11, 2013
On June 10, the Elbe River in northern Germany breached its levees and began to flood surrounding towns, which were quickly evacuated by local authorities, according to The Associated Press. As of the following day, the situation has improved in certain areas and intensified in others. CNN reported that thousands in the state of Saxony-Anhalt had to be evacuated after two dikes in the area broke, while other towns in the state are seeing the floodwaters begin to stabilize. Concerned individuals who have relatives in Germany may want to reach out and inquire after their safety by using an international calling card.
The Elbe's waters reached 26.9 feet at the peak of the flooding, breaking the area's previous floodwater record of 25.2 feet. As yet, eight people have died as a result of the flooding, including three within Saxony-Anhalt. Nearly 4,000 German soldiers are currently assisting with relief efforts in the state and dropping sandbags on the riverbanks to stem the rising waters.
The flooding has not been limited to the Elbe River. The Danube and other rivers in the region have also experienced various levels of flooding, affecting not only Germany but also Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.