Weather Service Warns of Further Storms
In the flood-affected areas of Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, residents are looking ahead with concern to the coming week, which could bring more severe weather. Saarbrücken has already seen its first fatality.
### Cleanup Efforts and Potential New Storms
Cleanup efforts are underway in the flood-hit regions of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate, but the situation could worsen again this week. According to the German Weather Service (DWD), heavy rainfall could develop starting Tuesday, potentially affecting the southwest of the country.
### First Fatality in Saarbrücken
The flooding in Saarbrücken has claimed its first victim. A 67-year-old woman died on Sunday evening in a hospital, the city reported. She had been injured during a rescue operation on Friday. Media had already reported on the incident over the weekend.
### Reactions and Current Damage Assessment
Saarland’s Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger expressed her sorrow: "It breaks my heart that a 67-year-old woman has succumbed to her injuries from a tragic accident during a rescue operation," said the SPD politician on Sunday. She expressed her gratitude for the professional efforts of all rescue workers in Saarland, noting that their work has helped keep the number of injuries low. As of Sunday evening, the Saarland Ministry of the Interior reported no further injuries. Similarly, no injuries had been reported in Rhineland-Palatinate by Sunday.
### Current Situation in Rhineland-Palatinate
On Sunday afternoon, heavy rain in the town of Kirn in Rhineland-Palatinate led to flooding and landslides. The Sulzbach district was particularly affected, with many basements and ground floors filled with water and mud. A landslide also blocked federal highway 41, which had to be temporarily closed. On Sunday evening, there was a major operation by the fire department and technical relief organization in Auw an der Kyll in the Southern Eifel. Several houses had flooded basements, said a police spokesman in Trier. "So far, the situation is relatively calm. There are no injuries according to the latest information." About 130 emergency personnel were on site late Sunday evening. The water level of the Kyll River, a tributary of the Moselle, was quite high, leading to the flooding.
### Chancellor Scholz on Site
Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Saarland’s Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger visited Kleinblittersdorf to meet with flood-affected residents and assure them of support.
### Warning of Extreme Storms
Residents are anxiously watching the weather forecasts for this week. "Tuesday will be interesting," said meteorologist Markus Übel from the DWD. Heavy rainfall could again affect the southwest of the country. Exact predictions are difficult as models show varying results regarding the intensity and location of the rainfall. However, it is likely that parts of Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, and Baden-Württemberg will be affected. Although the predicted rainfall amounts are not as high as last Friday, most of the rain is expected to fall within six to twelve hours. If Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are again the focus of the rainfall, rising water levels and potential flooding could be expected once more.
