North Germany braces for worst flood in decades

Emergency personnel, troops and civilian volunteers in North German states are on high alert to face the worst flood their cities face in decades as heavy rains continue and Elbe River waters reach recorded levels threatening to soak whole towns. In a precautionary measure, thousands of the people were evacuated from their homes and farms to safer shelters. The water level of the Elbe River in the northern city of Magdeburg, the capital of Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, has reached nearly 7.4 meters (24 feet), up from the normal level of two meters. The peak level was 70 centimeters above that reached during the last catastrophic floods in 2002, when the river's maximum was 6.72 meters. Tens of thousands of Magdeburg residents were asked to leave the city for safer government buildings in nearby areas. Emergency teams and troops in Madeburg's Rothensee suburb are exerting strenuous efforts to protect power station from the high waters. Overnight near the village of Fischbeck, the torrent of water forced a 10-metre breach in the dyke which quickly grew to 50 meters, sparking the order for the village residents to leave, as well as those of three neighboring villages. The situation in the city was described as critical, with flood defenses being put in place. Sandbags were also mounted against the rising waters in nearby towns such as Wittenberg. In the northern state of Brandenburg, which surrounds the capital Berlin, local authorities mobilized thousands of troops, emergency personnel and volunteers to build a dam to the protect the residential areas from the severe floods. In the northernmost state of Schleswig-Holstein, preparations for the floods are on full swing. The authorities there advised residents to leave their homes to safer places as the water levels in the river are going to record highs.