Transport in Germany remains severely affected by flooding

Speaking to the media on June 4, a representative of the Rhine Waterways and Transport Authority (WSA) said that shipping activities are currently suspended in many places on the Rhine such as Maxau, Mannheim, Worms, Mainz and Bingen. Many ships have had to return to port or stay in port to wait for the flood water level to decrease again. This situation may continue for the next few days.

Rail transport has also been severely affected. According to Deutsche Bahn, due to flooding in parts of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, some local and long-distance rail lines remain inoperable, resulting in many train cancellations or delays.

Deutsche Bahn has implemented a ticket exchange policy for passengers on affected routes, while continuing to advise against train travel to southern Germany for the time being.

According to preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD), some parts of southern Germany have seen exceptionally heavy rainfall in recent days. Meteorologist Thomas Deutschländer said it could be considered the “rainfall of the century”. In total, around 20 to 30 monitoring stations recorded exceptionally high readings, stretching from the Augsburg area to near Lake Constance.

According to the Bavarian fire service, the rescue operation for the flood victims is more challenging than ever. The fire service has had to mobilize 30,000 staff on duty every day to support the people, trying to prevent and minimize the damage of the floods. The situation is now somewhat under control, but the fire service has a lot of work to do.