600 evacuated amid catastrophic flooding in Germany

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People check out a flooded area in Ulm, southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg, June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

FRANKFURT, June 2 (Xinhua) — Heavy rains have caused catastrophic flooding in southern Germany, prompting the evacuation of over 600 people from their homes, local media reported.

Continuous rainfall over several days has caused water levels to rise in several rivers in Germany, including the Donau, Neckar, and Guenz, leading to widespread flooding in coastal cities and towns. Water levels in many areas have reached their highest levels in a century.

The two southern German states of Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg are the hardest hit. As of 2 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Sunday, 10 districts in Bavaria have declared a state of emergency, with over 670 residents of the district Neuburg-Schrobenhausen being evacuated, local authority said.

The German Weather Service has issued the highest level of severe weather warnings for several districts in southern Germany. In the city of Meckenbeuren of Baden-Wuerttemberg, some 1,300 people were also asked to leave their homes due to the risk of flooding. ■

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area in Ulm, southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area in Babenhausen, southern German state of Bavaria. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area as the water level of the Danube river has risen in Ulm, southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area in Babenhausen, southern German state of Bavaria. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area as the water level of the Danube river has risen in Ulm, southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

Vehicles wade through a flooded road in Babenhausen, southern German state of Bavaria, June 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)

This photo taken on June 2, 2024 shows a flooded area as the water level of the Danube river has risen in Ulm, southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. (Xinhua/Zhang Fan)