The water in the Oder continues to rise near Ratzdorf and Frankfurt (Oder). The highest alert level could soon be reached.
Ratzdorf – The water levels of the Oder in Brandenburg continue to rise. In the morning, the level in Ratzdorf exceeded the 5.60 meter mark. This triggered alarm level 3. On Tuesday, experts expect the highest alarm level 4 to be exceeded, which is declared at a water level of 5.90 meters.
According to the state, alarm level 3 corresponds to a “major flood”. People are asked to avoid the flood-prone area as much as possible. Alarm level 4 therefore means “very major flood” and is the highest alarm level. In certain circumstances, there is then a “danger to life”.
The authorities do not expect the water level to drop until Friday. The village of Ratzdorf is located at the confluence of the Oder and Neisse rivers, about 40 kilometers south of Frankfurt (Oder). On Monday morning, construction began on a flood protection wall around 152 meters long and one meter high.
Flood protection improved compared to 1997
In 1997, the small town of Ratzdorf was threatened with flooding on the Oder. The village at the confluence of the Oder and Neisse was not protected by a dyke at the time. The water level house on a plinth on the banks of the Oder in Ratzdorf, which suddenly appeared in the middle of the floods, has since become known throughout Germany. In July 1997, a water level of almost 6.90 meters was measured. Since then, several million euros have been invested in flood protection on the Oder.
Frankfurt (Oder) prepares for flooding
To protect the dykes, the city of Frankfurt (Oder) has already banned people from entering the facilities. In recent days, hundreds of onlookers have come to the banks of the Oder to watch the slowly rising water level, the city administration explained. The authority had previously appealed to people to refrain from flood tourism.
The water level in the border town is expected to reach the level of alarm level 3 – the second highest warning level – during the course of Tuesday. After that, from Tuesday onwards, dykes may only be entered or driven on by emergency services in the course of flood control. dpa
#Flooding #Oder #Ratzdorf #reaches #alarm #level