Floods, hail, violent storms, and deaths while digging

On Saturday afternoon, heavy rainfall and thunderstorms swept across several regions in Germany, leading to widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and tragic incidents involving individuals caught unprepared in the extreme weather conditions. The situation reached its peak when the highest level of weather warning was issued for 18 districts in Bavaria, Saxony, and Brandenburg. According to meteorologists, the storms brought approximately 30 liters of rain per square meter within a short time, accompanied by gusts reaching up to 90 kilometers per hour and hailstones measuring up to three centimeters in diameter. These severe weather conditions caused significant disruptions, including at the Berlin Open tennis tournament, where parts of the venue were flooded, forcing organizers to activate emergency plans and evacuate spectators. Over a hundred people sought refuge at nearby train stations and tunnels during the storm.

The intense rainfall was directly linked to an extreme heatwave that had gripped Germany over the weekend. Meteorologists explained that the combination of high temperatures and humid air created ideal conditions for the formation of powerful storm systems. While many sought relief from the heat, some tragedies occurred due to the sudden change in weather. In Gelsenkirchen, a 16-year-old boy drowned while swimming in the Rhine-Herne canal with his friend. Despite the swift response from rescuers, they could not save him. Similarly, in Rheinstetten near Karlsruhe, a 23-year-old swimmer lost his life after disappearing in Lake Epplesee. His body was recovered after about an hour and a half following an extensive search operation. In Hesse, three people went missing on the Rhine, with authorities expressing concern over their safety. Among them were two young men who did not know how to swim.

The aftermath of the storm left communities dealing with the consequences of the previous day's weather chaos. In Brandenburg alone, firefighters responded to 58 interventions related to flooded roads, fallen trees, and fires caused by lightning strikes. In Cottbus, the city’s festival was interrupted for several hours due to torrential rains that flooded the venue and caused electrical issues. After the weather calmed down, organizers were able to continue the event. However, extreme heat also led to structural problems, such as broken windows falling from a commercial building in Cottbus. In Schleswig-Holstein, sections of the A1 highway were closed due to road damage, while in Brandenburg, asphalt on the A13 highway began to lift due to high temperatures.

In addition to the severe weather in Germany, similar challenges arose in other European cities. In Ljubljana, Slovenia, the intense rainfall caused traditional flooding in the city’s underpasses, particularly on Dunajska, Celovška, and Šmartinska streets. The municipal administration confirmed that the rainfall was exceptionally heavy, causing water to accumulate in these areas due to their design as deep depressions where runoff collects. Although efforts have been made to improve drainage systems, recent floods highlighted the limitations of existing infrastructure. Officials noted that even after renovations, the system struggled to handle the volume of water during intense downpours, resulting in vehicles being trapped in flooded underpasses. They mentioned ongoing projects aimed at reducing pressure on the drainage network, but emphasized that increasingly frequent and severe weather events pose new challenges for urban planning.

Efforts to enhance safety measures include considering the installation of traffic lights that would alert drivers to flooded underpasses. Local officials discussed this possibility, noting that while improvements have been made to certain areas, the problem remains significant. In particular, the mayor of Ljubljana expressed confidence that red lights placed at critical points could prevent accidents by warning drivers of dangerous water levels. He acknowledged that despite these measures, the most effective solution lies in ensuring that drivers avoid driving into flooded areas altogether.

Meanwhile, a separate tragedy unfolded along the Adriatic coast in Albania. On Friday around noon, a nine-year-old girl and her 11-year-old cousin disappeared while swimming at Tale Beach near the town of Lješ. The girls were unable to return to shore due to unexpectedly rough sea conditions. Their bodies were found shortly afterward on the beach, just meters away from where they had entered the water. The incident has raised concerns about the lack of basic safety infrastructure at the beach, which is not managed by local authorities or private entities. The mayor of Lješ called attention to the need for increased parental supervision and awareness among visitors, especially regarding children who cannot swim. This marks the second drowning incident in the area within a month, bringing the total number of fatalities from drownings in the region to four.